Crisis Comms and Shade at the Espy Awards
The ESPY Awards gave viewers a chance to see a variety of communications approaches, from the use of crisis communications response to address a controversial award acceptance to evening a score with cutting humor.
How did these script decisions land?
NYT: “Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is no stranger to controversy, and he found himself in the thick of another public-relations pickle before he strode to the stage at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday night. But in accepting the Pat Tillman Award for Service at ESPN’s annual made-for-TV gala, Harry graciously acknowledged his critics — including Mr. Tillman’s mother, Mary — while citing the work that his organization, the Invictus Games, had done since its inception in 2014.”
How did he do? What did he say to try and create a new framework in which to view his controversial award?:
HAZ: The truth is, I stand here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient, but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from over 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality. This award belongs to them, not to me.
Hat tip to Aaron Dowd.
Yahoo Sports: “A day after the tennis legend roasted him onstage alongside her sister Venus and "Abbott Elementary" creator and star Quinta Brunson, the Kansas City Chiefs kicker issued a statement to NBC News complaining about the joke.”:
The Williams’ and Brunson threw shade as a response to Butker’s controversial commencement speech:
So, go ahead and enjoy women's sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports. - Venus Williams
Except you, Harrison Butker. We don't need you. - Serena Williams
At all. Like, ever. - Quinta Brunson
NBC News: Butker’s response:
I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on a variety of topics. … Sports are supposed to be the great unifier and at an event dedicated to celebrating a diverse group of men and women who have accomplished great feats, she used it as an opportunity to disinvite those with whom she disagrees with from supporting fellow athletes.