The Truth About the ‘No Publicity is Bad Publicity’ Myth

They say, “no publicity is bad publicity,” but in this digital age, is that really true?

Let me be honest: it’s not.

Some types of publicity will come for your name, your career, and everything you’ve built.

I understand people want to trend; to be talked about, to be on everyone’s lips. But if it’s for the wrong reason, you might be setting yourself up to fall hard.

Yes, there’s a tiny bit of truth to the saying. It may work for some; usually celebrities or entertainers, but just because it worked for A doesn’t mean it won’t ruin B.

Where Did This Myth Come From?

In the world of entertainment, clout is currency.

Some celebrities breathe and eat controversy; some even pay influencers to run “agendas” on X or intentionally spark fake rumors to trend.

But many of these stunts backfire.

Why? Because public perception matters.

We now live in the age of cancel culture, and once the public is done with you… it’s hard to bounce back.

Now apply that to brands and small businesses; it doesn’t hit the same.

Brands that try to “pull stunts” and end up trending for the wrong reasons risk losing trust, reputation, and even future deals.

So, no; clout isn’t worth it.

The Dangers of Bad Publicity

• 🧠 Digital footprint lasts forever: Google “Erisco Foods” today and you’ll see the legal drama with Chioma Okoli. That headline stuck. Even if they clean up, it’s part of their brand history forever.
• 💔 It breaks trust instantly: I personally avoid certain brands just because of how I saw them handle a crisis. It doesn’t have to go viral. Sometimes a random tweet is all it takes.
• 🚫 It blocks future opportunities: Some deals will never come because of one bad PR moment. Brands won’t associate with you if they feel your name could stain theirs.

Case Study: Vendor vs Bride Drama on TikTok

A vendor was called out for “making a bride cry on her wedding day.”

The bride paid for styling services. The vendor didn’t show up and also refused to release the dress unless the bride came to her studio for content and fitting. When the bride shared her experience online, the vendor tried to shift blame and even threatened legal action.

The result? More dragging. People criticized the vendor’s tone, her response, even the design. Her brand suffered.

What could she have done better?

• Don’t collect a styling fee if you can’t show up.
• Don’t refuse to refund what you didn’t deliver.
• The bride doesn’t owe you content.
• When things go wrong, own it, apologize, and resolve it. No drama needed.

What To Do Instead of Chasing Clout

• ✅ Have a communication strategy : Don’t wait for problems to blow up before you plan your response. Even Khair Media has a plan!
• ✅ Own your narrative early: The first voice people hear often becomes the truth. Speak up before your story is twisted.
• ✅ Apologize and be transparent: You may lose some customers, but you’ll gain respect and that’s worth more.
• ✅ Monitor and manage issues fast: Don’t wait until your name is on the blogs. Even a tweet with 1 like might have gone viral in screenshots.

Final Thoughts on “No publicity is bad publicity “

Publicity without purpose is noise. Don’t trade credibility for clout.The noise may fade, but the digital footprint remains.

Be known for something great.

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check my previous post What is Crisis Management and Why It’s Vital for Brands