After NPR called me to weigh in on the Coldplay concert scandal and Astronomer’s new viral ad starring Gwyneth Paltrow, a listener to the time to email to call me a “fussbucket.”

You know what? I’ll take it.

Because here’s the thing: clever marketing isn’t a substitute for accountability. In this epsiode ofThe PR Breakdown, I explain why Astronomer’s ad (produced by Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and fronted by Gwyneth Paltrow) is a classic case of PR deflection wrapped in celebrity glitter.

This episode unpacks:

• Why the real problem was never the kiss—it was the CEO-HR power dynamic
• The danger of turning ethical breaches into punchlines
• How Maximum Effort’s fastvertising campaign misread the assignment
• What leadership accountability actually sounds like (hint: not “we’ve become a household name”)

Want to learn what separates a temporary distraction from a lasting reputation hit? This episode is for you.

Mentioned in the episode: 

- "5 PR Lessons from the Coldplay Concert That Took Down a CEO" - Molly McPherson, Substack (July, 23, 2025)

- "The Coldplay Concert Scandal That Took Down a CEO" - PR Breakdown podcast (July 23, 2025)

If you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. 

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