09/16/2026
Rep. Venton Jones and the Chris Brown situation is a perfect example of why having a publicist and/or crisis management professional on your team is essential.
This isn’t about whether you agree or disagree with the decision to honor Chris Brown. This is about preparation.
Before you step on a stage, issue an award, make a statement, announce a partnership, or attach your name to another public figure, somebody on your team should already be asking:
What could the public response be?
What part of this person’s history could become the story instead of the reason we are honoring them?
How will survivors of domestic violence receive this?
How do we acknowledge accountability without ignoring growth?
And most importantly: If there is backlash, what are we going to say?
That conversation should happen BEFORE you get on the stage—not after the headlines start rolling in.
A good communications professional isn’t there just to clean up a crisis. We are there to help you see the crisis coming.
Sometimes the recommendation may be, “Don’t do it.”
Sometimes it may be, “You can do it, but we need to address this directly in the speech.”
Sometimes it may mean making sure your record of supporting domestic violence survivors is clear and that the recognition does not come across as dismissing what happened in the past.
That is strategy.
Because once you publicly make a decision and then reverse course after backlash, you can create another communications problem. Now the conversation is no longer just about the original decision. People are also questioning why the decision was made, what vetting happened beforehand, and why your position changed afterward.
Public relations is not just posting flyers, writing press releases, and getting media coverage.
Crisis management is not just showing up when everything is already on fire.
It is anticipating risk, understanding your audience, preparing for multiple reactions, and making sure your actions and your message can stand together when scrutiny comes.
If you are an elected official, candidate, business owner, nonprofit leader, entertainer, influencer, or anyone building a public-facing brand, you need somebody in the room who is trained to ask the uncomfortable questions BEFORE the public does.
That is exactly why MGA Worldwide exists.
If your name is your brand, protect it like one.
Visit MinaGraham.com or connect with Mina Graham to discuss public relations, strategic communications, and crisis management.
