The Public Relations Blog

When disasters strike, people become overwhelmed. Chaos spreads rapidly. When crises occur in your company, many will turn to leadership for information, solutions, and reassurance. As a leader, you can help minimize damage and restore order by speaking with clarity and authority. 

This is why effective crisis communication can be so impactful. Use these tips to guide stakeholders, employees, and the public through the storm with clear, confident, and consistent messaging.

When a TikTok video allegedly showing a CEO cheating at a Coldplay concert went viral, it wasn’t because of who he was — at least, not at first. The moment exploded because it activated four of the internet’s most powerful engagement triggers: voyeurism, drama, ambiguity, and high stakes.

People couldn’t look away.

A blurry concert video. A kiss cam. A ducked face. And now, a PR nightmare.

What started as a seemingly innocuous moment at a Coldplay concert earlier this week — a couple caught briefly on the Jumbotron awkwardly ducking out of frame — has spiraled into a viral spectacle. Internet sleuths quickly identified the man as the married CEO of a tech company. The woman beside him was not his wife.

Within hours, the video racked up millions of views. By the next morning, memes circulated, TikTok think pieces exploded, and the CEO’s company, Astronomer, found itself facing a serious reputational fallout.

1. Is Tesla experiencing a brand crisis?
2. Chewy's recent content shows the power of thought leadership
3. 60-second close: Set your narrative, or someone else will

1. Delta’s crisis response is a masterclass in crisis communications
2. Media ethics lessons from the Baldoni/Lively case
3. 60-second close: Protecting reputation and trust

What we can learn from Delta’s crisis response strategy

Delta Air Lines recently made headlines for offering $30,000 to each passenger aboard the plane that flipped on a runway in Toronto on Monday. While this immediate payout was swift and decisive, the move raises questions about whether financial compensation alone is enough in crisis communications.

1. CNN lays off over 200 staff after viewership decline
2. Rise in cyberattacks makes advanced crisis communication planning critical
3. 60-second close: Adaptation and forethought are PR priorities

1. The best PR: Smart moves in 2024
2. The worst PR: 2024’s blunders
3. 60-second close: Looking ahead to the new year

In this episode, Doug Filaroski joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how a property insurance company manages crisis communications. 

Tune in to learn more!

MrBeast, one of YouTube’s biggest stars, faces challenges that could damage his reputation and brand. He’s in the spotlight for a lawsuit involving his Beast Games production, accusations of mistreatment, and declining engagement levels. 

While MrBeast (whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson) has weathered controversies before, this situation presents more complex problems. In this post, we’ll identify the issues and outline the steps Axia Public Relations would recommend if MrBeast were our client.