What You Do in Private Can Reverberate in Public
Singer Rozonda Thomas, known as Chilli from the popular group TLC, was recently embroiled in a crisis — not only from a series of suspect political actions, but also from her ensuing response. Public records show the singer donated to President Donald J. Trump’s 2024 campaign, igniting ire from her predominately Black fanbase. She later responded to the backlash by claiming she didn’t “read the fine print” before giving money to the president, who many feel is actively attacking people who look like her. Her initial response suggested the donation was a one-time blunder instead of a pattern that testified to her beliefs.
Shortly after it was revealed that she donated to President Trump, reports surfaced that she also ‘liked’ a series of posts from accounts purported to be MAGA. Let’s be clear, a person’s political views are their business. But it is important that people own who they are without wavering. We will not agree with one another, 100 percent of the time. But we do need to appreciate that what we do in private can reverberate in public.
I hope all leaders appreciate that in the 21st century, nothing is private. Here are three reasons why:
Your Audience is Always Watching
If you have the benefit of a platform, your audience watches you, looks up to you, and in some cases, wants to emulate you. They’re not only watching you to gain inspiration, they’re also watching you to gain direction. Most people aren’t looking to find those they admire in a lie or scandal. When they see incongruence between what you say and how you show up, the discrepancy is disappointing, painful even. People will also project onto you their own hopes and expectations. It’s your job as a leader to remind people who you are, while also living in congruence and harmony.
Your Audience Expects Loyalty
What is most troubling about the matter with Chili is that for over three decades, she benefitted from her proximity to the Black community. While Black people are not a monolith, and there are many Republicans within the Black community, many people have little tolerance for people who profess one thing in front of Black audiences and behave completely differently in private. At a minimum, your audience expects loyalty.
If Chili was a Trump supporter, she should have owned that completely when news of the donations broke. Instead, she appeared to waiver and suggested she didn’t get what she signed up for. To be clear, some people would still be upset but they wouldn’t feel like she was being disloyal.
Your Audience Craves Authenticity
If there is one thing that angers people, it is feeling like a person they respect projects one image while living contrary to that image. People do not like hypocrites and the moment your audience suspects you of lacking credibility, it will be virtually impossible to regain their trust.
Your Audience Expects More
Most Black people or people of color expect entertainers who look like them to share their values. It is disappointing when it is later discovered that this is not the case. When revelation of Chili’s donations to President Trump were publicized, the public also learned that Chili was accused of having anti-Black views and resharing false and degrading social media posts about former First Lady Michelle Obama. Her behavior sowed distrust with the very people who bought her music and lifted her to stardom. It will be challenging for her to recover.
Own Who You Are
At some point or another, we are all going to make mistakes. But it is crucial to engage honestly and thoughtfully with the goal of not only learning but improving. While we all want to get out of uncomfortable situations swiftly, in a crisis situation, don’t just think about the immediate crisis; think about your relationship with your audience over the long-term. Transparency and vulnerability will go farther than defensiveness or excuses.
In closing, we should all remember that in today’s environment, nothing is really private. Your text and email messages, search history, social media activity, and broader digital footprint are all discoverable. And as Chili has learned, your political donations are public information. As such, strive to be in private who you say you are in public.
If you need assistance recovering from a crisis, know that you do not have to navigate challenging situations alone. Visit our website and schedule a consultation today.
Jennifer R. Farmer is a crisis communications expert and founder Spotlight PR LLC. Coshandra Dillard is deputy director-editorial at Spotlight PR LLC. Be sure to check out other blogs for additional PR tips.