Say What? - A Reputation Error in Judgment and Communication

Bryan Adams, say what?

“Tonight was supposed to be the beginning of a tenancy of gigs at the @royalalberthall, but thanks to some f***ing bat eating, wet market animal selling, virus making greedy bastards, the whole world is now on hold, not to mention the thousands that have suffered or died from this virus,” Adams posted on social media, adding “My message to them other than ‘thanks a f***ing lot’ is go vegan."

Yeah, about that. While social media is never an intelligent, wise strategy to go throw an adult tantrum, it is exactly where many adults do go to do just that. Not everyone pays a terrible reputation toll but some do get eaten alive.

People remember, especially if they don’t already like you or if the offense is significantly egregious. Adams being angry is one thing. Spewing that anger and ugliness online, not his best decision making or best character moment.

He did go back online, yet did little to clean up his mess.

“Apologies to any and all that took offence to my posting yesterday,” Adams wrote on Instagram. “No excuse, I just wanted to have a rant about the horrible animal cruelty in these wet-markets being the possible source of the virus, and promote veganism.”

Mild regret, mild apology, unimpressive. At least he owned it (before rationalizing the behavior).

Adams likely will have to do much more to diffuse the anger, disgust, resentment and hostility that is still possible, if not likely to come his direction.

Prevention is always the best strategy to reputation health yet as humans, we make mistakes and commit reckless errors, as in the case of Adams in this situation.

The questions now for him could be: does he realize how his words were interpreted? Were they taken as he explained and hoped? What else is he willing to do to make conflict repairs and restore or rebuild reputation and relationships that are important to him, not only in business but with society?