Rob Ford’s Cracked Crisis Management

Transparent blustering only results in more reputation damage

Last week, we discussed the crisis management nightmare that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has landed in after a video, which allegedly shows him using crack cocaine and insulting various constituents, was shown to members of the press.

While Ford fended off questions and avoided appearances for nearly two weeks, apparently he felt comfortable enough on his own weekly radio show to answer a caller’s question in more detail than he has yet to this point.

Here’s a synopsis of his reply, from a Toronto Star article by Daniel Dale:

Asked by a caller to his Sunday radio show whether it is indeed him in the video described by the Star and the U.S. website Gawker, Ford laughed and responded, “Number 1, there’s no video, so that’s all I can say. You can’t comment on something that doesn’t exist.”

Ford firmly called the reports “false,” a word that did not appear in his Friday speech at City Hall.

This is really risky territory. According to reporters from two separate news outlets, there is a video. It’s quite a stretch to imagine that these media veterans really have such a vendetta against Ford that they would put their careers on the line by falsifying a story to that extent.

The Mayor’s brother, Doug Ford, then switched directions, going on a hunt for the media’s dirty laundry and questioning the personal choices of the reporters who broke the story. Check out these quotes, from the same Star article:

Doug Ford later asked listeners to contact him with any personal information about members of the media. He accused unnamed reporters of using cocaine themselves.

“I’ve been getting numerous calls about the media, and the shenanigans they’re on, and, as I said on a couple other talk shows, I found it ironic when I’m getting calls that the people that were chasing Rob have done cocaine. Not just experiment, but have indulged in cocaine,” Doug Ford said.

Frankly, this is completely beside the point, and fairly obvious blustering from the Ford camp. The reason that Ford is under such heavy scrutiny for drug use is that he is a public servant whose decisions affect the lives of many, not a private individual who chose to indulge in illegal activities.

This further meltdown comes on the heels of Ford having fired his chief of staff, well-known crisis management expert Mark Towhey. One can only speculate, but given the fact that Ford’s recent actions go directly against the advice any crisis manager worth their salt would be offering, we’re sure Mark is relieved to be away from this mess of epic proportions.

The BCM Blogging Team
https://www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com/