More than four million people watched the TLC biopic on VH-1 on a Monday night no less. Some of the people I talked to have said, “CrazySexyCool” is right up there with “The Temptations” and “The Jackson’s: An American Dream,” two made-for -TV movies that fans find themselves watching no matter how many times it airs.
Like both of those movies, the audience relies on facts told by a person or people very close to the groups. “CrazySexyCool” is Chilli’s and T-Boz’s account of what happened, and that hasn’t been good for Pebbles.
Not surprisingly, TLC’s former manager wasn’t happy being portrayed as the greedy, unscrupulous woman who allegedly mismanaged the trio’s funds, cheated them out of millions and treated them like crap.
Since the movie aired, she’s been the butt of jokes and in some circles she’s come close to becoming the most hated women in show business.
But what would you do if you were Pebbles? Because as bad as she looked in the movie, there has to be another side of the story and we haven’t heard it yet.
She did respond to a promotional radio interview where Chilli and T-Boz reportedly discussed how the group had been wronged. Here is one of several Tweets from Pebbles: “I’m in shock listening to all this mess and lies on this radio interview! This is madness!!! It’s SO hard to believe this! DO NOT believe.”
But since the release of “CrazySexyCool”, she has only said via Twitter that she may be seeking legal action.
According to Robin M. Ware, a social media specialist who also consults clients whose reputation, credibility or public image has been damaged, there are some things that are written or said about you that you have to pay attention to, whether it is true or not.
I don’t think she’s gotten a call from Pebbles, but if she had, Robin would have suggested she follow her 5 R’s of Damage Control:
1. Respond
If it questions your integrity, get in front of it as quickly as possible. Don’t go into hiding.
2. Representation
Get someone who can represent you well, someone who knows how to troubleshoot and put a strategy together.
3. Resolution
You want to resolve the issue. You don’t owe the world all the details but you can say, yes, I was part of something that didn’t turn out the way I though it would and for that, I’m sorry.
4. Remove yourself
Get out of the limelight! Sometimes the reason we’re in trouble is because we’re tired and not in the right frame of mind. Go on sabbatical, get some rest and come back when you’re refreshed.
5. Rebuild
We all have things happen in our lives. So come back out after a while and start to live your life again. There’s nothing you can’t rebound from. God is a God of second chances and we should all be thankful for that!
You can catch Robin’s “Mamas Gone Wild” interview about damage control on BlackAmericaWeb.com.
As a spectator in this whole thing, it seems the longer Pebbles let’s this go on, the more time people have to believe everything TLC has said about her is true.
But whether it is or not, it should make us remember that we’re never completely done with our past. It follows us wherever we go.
Is it Karma or is Pebbles getting an unfair rap?
You tell us, Pebbles.
