H&M PR disasters 52: Roundabouts and walkabouts

[bluegreygreen]

The continuing story of the Sussexes and their PR issues.

Hi there. I hope everyone is having a good day.

Thank you for the thread.

Thanks for the new thread.

As you were, everyone 🍿🥨😉

Wait what happened to 51?

I haven't really had time to follow this latest rollercoaster ride.

Has a roundabout redeemed its kind by delivering cheering hordes?

Thanks for the new thread @bluegreygreen 🤗

Full already !

No 51 filled up as I was composing a reply to an excellent post by LookOutLookOutTomCruiseIsAbout

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/theroyalfamily/5589444-hm-pr-disasters-51-advent-calendars-and-engagements?latest=1&reply=155408292&utmcampaign=reply&utmmedium=share

I'm not going to waste it so here it is!

I very much hope that the WRF carry on with their dignified 'grey rocking', approach. It is the only thing that will work long term. What is that expression that has been used on these threads before? Something like

"Never wrestle with a pig. You just get dirty and the pig enjoys it."

If they can hold their collective nerve the contrast between the WRF and the H+M fake stuff will just become ever starker. Also, so far their appearances in the UK have been with charities they have previously been connected with. Not counting the Malala Yousafzai episode which was a set up for pap shots etc. Hopefully others will be more wary now. Nothing for November or December so far. Remembrance is going to be marked privately and they are off to Montecito for Christmas.

I hope the Invictus board manages to get its act together for next year. The Birmingham City Council officials must be despairing.

PS thanks for the new thread @bluegreygreen

Thank-you for this latest thread.

The Telegraph is carrying a story I haven't spotted elsewhere. It quotes 'the Sussex camp' extensively and has to be one of the best delusions of grandeur tales I have seen from M. Remember the story a few weeks ago about M being in talks for a role in The Gentleman, that got quashed within 24 hours? Well apparently we weren't told the real story. What actually happened was that Netflix used M to bolster the show's ratings, and have succeeded in doing this to the tune of 500,000 viewers. We learn it's a trick often used: link a big name to a struggling show. M has also been told to be very selective about which scripts she reads, and not to talk about the ones she is reading so she isn't exploited again in.

Yep. That all makes sense.

Typo

Many thanks for your kind encouragement @bluegreygreen - it's much appreciated.

So may I add another thought of mine?

One of H&M's buzz words, used to describe themselves, is 'authentic'

They are members of the Soho Club where, I have read, the staff are trained to be friends with the clients. So not authentic friendship but bought with a subscription

And the more I read about the Nottingham events it is becoming increasingly obvious that the 'supporters' were bought by various means (paid PR scouting for them, Sussex Squad being 'encouraged' to attend etc etc) So nothing authentic there either

As ever, H&M love preaching to the rest of us about how to live our own best authentic lives but they would do well to note that the majority of us are doing just that whilst the two of them are not

I'll put my soap box away now & start cooking the Sunday roast!

I wanted to post on the previous thread about the signing of a 3 page contract. I am actually quite concerned that the BBC were on this list, is it possible to do a freedom of information request to see if the BBC signed this contract and if they did to see what terms this contract said? The thought that Harry and Meghan might be able to control what our state broadcaster who we pay for is incredibly sinister and surely is illegal?

I have also seen reports of schools being phoned to attend and some refusing, and one little girl receiving a hand-written invite from Meghan.

I'd like to know who commissioned a drone to take ariel footage of the 'crowds'.

Thanks for the new thread, @bluegreygreen

On a side note my friend who works on the St Ann's industrial estate mentioned that the guy in the beige jacket behind H&M in the street photos is the same one who visited the units trying to drum up people to attend

So if - as seems likely - he's one of their private security grunts, I have to wonder if that's the sort of thing such people would normally expect to do
I guess it's no worse than being sent for coffee in Canada though ...

It's hard to think how they could have messed up so badly imo.

They had the chance to lead a funded life whilst they eased into being working royals & chose charities.

I guess that was all too scripted for M?

Although a bit like being an actress in some ways I would have thought.

Then they left for Cali with millions behind them & a regular payment from Pa & the only thing they could think of was trashing the RF?

Then they left for Cali with millions behind them & a regular payment from Pa & the only thing they could think of was trashing the RF?

It seems their MO is decide what's the best way for them to operate and then do the complete opposite. They manage to do it every time.

Crazy weekend, place marking for later, thanks for the new thread @bluegreygreen

I think a key factor in the whole saga is Meghan needing to be in charge as that's the only way to secure her the prominence she believes she deserves. It works for so many of their PR disasters: leaving the Royal family, Invictus, Malala, Nottingham.

I very much hope that the WRF carry on with their dignified 'grey rocking', approach. It is the only thing that will work long term. What is that expression that has been used on these threads before? Something like
"Never wrestle with a pig. You just get dirty and the pig enjoys it."
If they can hold their collective nerve the contrast between the WRF and the H+M fake stuff will just become ever starker.

Agree with this, @Ratherbeadolphin.

The more that comes out about the Nottingham event, the less royal it looks.

I didn’t have time to put this in the last post re Megan’s pose with eyes closed and hands on her chest -

the level of insincerity reminds me of waiters in California who work for tips - we were in a restaurant and the waiter was so friendly and interested in us - I realised I’d left something at the table and went back in a few minutes after leaving - spoke to him and he looked straight through me, no idea who I was and no interest in helping

The grey rocking is the best way to describe them the royal family are playing a blinder.
Let H&M be loud, brash & desperate... empty vessels make the most noise

I wonder (random thought) who their security is and who vets it?

Or carrying M's bags for her!

This is hilarious - who does she think would be stupid enough to fall for such a load of bollocks?

I saw Ray Winstone being asked about this and first he said “who?” And then when it was explained, “fuck off!”

As if a successful show looking for a big name to attach itself to would go for Meghan, a cable tv actress who hasn’t worked in the industry for years.

She's our very own Joan of Arc - Megz of the Cotswolds 😉

I expect they have an extra clause on their contracts which reads

"Other duties as designated by the client"

I can't imagine any security detail elsewhere going around an industrial site trying to drum up interest for an event that they are providing security for. Totally bizarre!

You'd hope that included a thorough recce of the venue beforehand including escape routes, but this setup is so amateur you have to doubt that.