Nothing could be a worse nightmare for a PR professional than what is currently playing out on the world stage, with Charlie Sheen. I heard that his publicist resigned last week amid all the mayhem, and I cant say I blame them.
What is most intriguing is that every few days he appears on a large network morning program and seems to be the picture of a concerned parent, totally lucid, rational and coherent. The next thing you know he has uploaded a web-cam rant, which has been shot in his kitchen with bad lighting and sound, that makes him look like he is a picnic short of a sandwich!
What's to be done with a client that appears out of control and behaving in a most erratic and destructive manner? Well, frankly nothing can be done, if they won't listen. This is a real tragedy for PR people when it does occur, as you can see the damage happening in real-time and can do absolutely nothing about it.
People and companies seem to get totally intoxicated with their own importance, fame, value, whatever they think of themselves and disregard any sensible advice given to them by people who really care, and who they forget, have their reputation inextricably tied to them as well. PR professionals only resign from a client in desperation when they believe that the client has no further trust in them and who goes off the rails while making career or personal decisions.
Why would you want to bite the hand that is helping you and has your very best interest at heart, often at the most critical time in your career? Sheen has obviously lost faith in anyone who is remotely connected to his best interests, financial future, and the very industry who has made him a wealthy man. Deciding rather to go it solo, making one gaff after another. The poor man appears mentally off the reservation at times and the world sits by and watches him self-destruct. Its terribly sad, for himself, his children and his family.
He has an enormous talent and was the highest paid TV actor per episode and yet his life is spiraling towards a crazy, if not tragic end. Medical experts are unanimous in their diagnosis about his mental and physical state and yet no one seems willing to help him. The circus is playing out and the dirty laundry is hanging out for the world to pick over. Even if as they say, he doesn't want to accept any 'help', isn't there some way that he can be gently coaxed to do the right thing? One can only hope.
But this is America, and we do so love a come-back story. Maybe Charlie regains control of his life and resumes it as 'One Whole Man' and not, as it would seem, thinking that he is actually 'Two and a Half Men!' in a world gone crazy around him.
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