Along with Andrew’s newsnight interview, new Coke and Farage’s Ipswich Town stadium tour, this year’s Wireless Festival appears destined for the ‘Crisis management module’ of future PR Courses. As far as I can see it went a bit like this:
Book possibly the most controversial artist in the world to headline at a time of massively increased sensitivity around anti-semitism.
‘Consult with stakeholders about the decision’ – including your headline sponsor. But did you perhaps not consult enough Melvin?
Announce artist and headline sponsor promptly withdraws.
Cue other sponsors heading for the exits.
Defend decision asking people for ‘forgiveness’ for someone who sold Nazi t-shirts etc until a couple of months ago, and reach out to offended community.
Said offended community refuse to meet said artist (maybe that consultation thing again) and ask government to stop him entering UK.
Government stops him entering UK.
Festival cancelled.
You handled that brilliantly Melvin
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‘You handled that brilliantly’ comes from the TV series Collatoral, uttered I think by Billie Piper after someone in the series has absolutely f####d up something simple, and has entered the family lexicon to be rolled out whenever someone has indeed not handled it very brilliantly at all.
I’ll rump your fine example of stupidity with this breathtaking move: send king to eat canapes and gladhand fascist b*****ds in the world’s biggest rogue state in futile gesture of toadying to a madman.
Indeed, if there was ever a moment for a diplomatic cold surely it is this?
Chas wasn’t forced to go, I assume. He is a grown-up and able to make his own decisions occasionally. And – he’s king. I think he just didn’t give it a second thought. One self-centred billionaire to another, who cares what the little people think?
Or he is gonna a give Donny a stiff talking to and stick a rocket up his arse.
I think he has to go if the government asks him to.
A Palace spokesperson has finally spoken out.
Their statement points out the monarchy’s continued efforts to remain neutral and says that the King travels “on advice of His Majesty’s government and at the invitation of the president of the United States.”
They also pointed out that the visit is more so to “celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States,” and for “marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.”
They could send andrew as a cheaper replacement and while there he could answer a question or several
I’d wager there are a bunch of civil servants along for the trip. Their job is to find an American grown-up or two and try and talk some kind of sense into them vis-a-vis the whole ‘threats to blow up the world’ business.
As some of trump’s ‘advisors’ are evangelical ‘christians ‘ and are hoping for the end times I fear they will have a difficult time finding a grown-up or two.
Please don’t throw facts at me. As if facts are going to prove anything. You sound like a very low IQ person, man, woman. With terrible ratings. Fake news! Badly!
Allegedly Charles (or one of his people) previously had a little word with Donny about his Canadian threats (Canada being part of the Commonwealth), there has been less “51st State” crap since then, but I suppose he is also busy with other things right now …
Apparently he had no idea that Chazza was King of Canada.
Given Melvin Benn has been in the business involved with and running major festivals and events for the best part of half a century this is a spectacular screw-up and almost incomprehensibly bad from the initial decision through to his car crash of an interview on the Today programme. I assume the fact that the government is not allowing the artist into the country gets the organisers off the hook in terms of contractual obligations to Kanye West.
I knew Melvin quite well about 40 years ago. I had no idea he was interested in music. He was an electrician then.
Really? I thought he was a zookeeper, a cowboy, a spaceman, a hunter, a pirate, a red knight, a caveman, er…
Very good! Tip of the (bowler) hat to you, Colin.
I’m too old for that reference, I had to get a younger person to explain it to me.
it’s always a good look when you are on one side and every single political leader is on the other. Thanks Melvin for finding something Farage and Starmer can agree on.
Here I am, brain the size of a planet, and you ask me to organise a music festival in Finsbury Park?
Oh, Melvin. Not Marvin.
No diodes down his left side. As far as we know ..