In spite of what’s widely perceived by the public as a noble undertaking for a woman who was needlessly verbally abused, Karen Klein’s situation will undoubtedly be the source of scrutiny. What began as a genuine attempt to raise $5,000 to send her on a nice vacation has increased exponentially to a life-altering sum of money, leading many to question if the amount of donations were unnecessary. As someone who was unwittingly thrust into the public eye, Klein now has a distinct set of public relations circumstances that she will have to manage.
Klein has been rather mum on what she intends to do with the funds, and as is her right; she did not come to the public seeking handouts or sympathy, her life changing circumstances were the direct result of a viral video and compassionate benefactors. Unfortunately, the court of public opinion has no regulation, and some op-ed writers are now calling for her to give the money back.
Being thrust into the spotlight immediately opens you up to
the media microscope, and with public relations, this presents an innate set of
issues. If unprepared, as Karen Klein unequivocally was, it’s entirely possible
to step on your own toes and turn the public against you.
An interesting story will unfold as more details emerge as
to the final monetary tally and Karen’s intentions, and certainly many news
outlets will provide their own opinion as to what they feel is the right path
to take. Whether you agree with online users’ graciousness or not, we can all
agree that what Karen Klein was subjected to is a wretched testament to the
state of our society, and should never, under any circumstances, be tolerated.
-Carter Breazeale
PR/PR Public Relations
