Are we stunting again?
For the umpteenth time, I have been compelled to address the issue of publicity stunts for the third time.
Readers of the column will agree with me that I have veered into this route before. But developments that have characterised the social media space in the week ending have left me with no option, but to go back to this subject of pulling publicity stunts.
If what we have witnessed in the past was deplorable, then what we have seen during the week from three respected brands is probably the lowest we can go in our quest to garner numbers and followership, if what we are meant to believe is anything to go by.
The barbs that have been exchanged and shared by numerous people in different platforms, the body shaming that has been accompanied by imagery and the inhuman ridiculing that has come in form of this stunt is quite regrettable.
As the debate on this on-going publicity stunt rumbled on some forum, which I am privileged to be part of, seasoned filmmaker Charles Shemu Joyah raised a few questions which I believe need serious consideration for all who engage in stunts.
He wrote and I quote: “Is there any scientific way of measuring that the stunts work? If people are following an artist, how do you know it is because of the embarrassing body shaming and not the artist itself?
“Even if it works, how resilient can one be to such public ridicule without it affecting ypur mental health? How does it affect your relationship with those around you and your loved ones? When all is said and done, the fundamental question remains; Is it worth it?” End of quote.
The points raised in the quote provide the best measure on the worthiness of publicity stunts. If, before you attempt to pull a stunt, you come up with responses to these questions, and still convince oneself that it is a right thing to do, then I have no problem with you.
But in the event that one fails to exhaustively satisfy these questions, then just know that this is not the right thing for you to do.
We appreciate that the show-business is not the most sane of spaces. But, somehow, I believe the lengths we are going with these stunts will leave us stained more than we intend to gain.
When you pull off the stunt you enjoy all the glory that comes in that moment. But the moments in the sun do not last forever. Your followers soon realise that it was all an act and nothing real.
It is in that second where they start judging you now. Some feel being taken for granted and some can judge you for being immature. So what follows immediately after those glory moments is a serious examination of the person that you are.
When one does a stunt to promote an event or song, does that mean they don’t have belief in the product that they want to bring on the market? Are the stunts some sort of bush tactics to deceive people by selling them something which is not worth it?
As trendy and fashionable as it may appear on the surface, a stunt will always come to haunt you one way of the other. That is why it is advisable to weigh the pros and cons of pulling one. You may intend to win extra followership without knowing that you are risking the little that you have already.
