The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

The Reputation Cliff: Why Some Celebrities Never Recover: Featuring the Sean Combs Trial and My NBC News Interview


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This episode examines the sharp edge of celebrity scandal and why some reputations teeter over the cliff while others, against the odds, manage a comeback. With Sean Combs (Diddy) serving as the case study, this episode reveals PR moves public figure make when they are close to the edge of the “reputation cliff.”

Comparing a trio of notorious comebacks and collapses—Robert Downey Jr., Tiger Woods, Ellen DeGeneres—the episode shares how two made it through the crisis while one fell victim to it. 

In this episode:

  • The three signals a brand or person is beyond repair
  • Why apologies and silence aren’t equal
  • The harsh truth about when it's too little, too late. 

Sources: 

  1. How allegations can impact Combs' Reputation, NBC News, May 14, 2025
  2. Brands! Take a Stand! But Do So With Caution, You.Gov, Deepa Bhatia - December 18th, 2018
  3. Poll: Tiger Woods Hits a Record Low, NY Post, 2009




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