Fashion PRs Need To Keep Doing What They Do

Like anyone with a heart, I loved the Beckham documentary. As well as being a warm hug of a show, it functioned as a superlatively positive piece of PR for the Beckhams, two people who are too often reduced to the sum of their bank balances, with Victoria in particular rarely accorded much compassion. 

In the light of its high ratings – according to Netflix, it had amassed 3.8M views by October 8th, becoming its top-rated TV show in Britain since Harry & Meghan – there was bound to be even more media / public interest in the couple than usual.

So when a story about Victoria’s “15 engagement rings” broke, there was a crazy response. I was one of many journalists commissioned to write about the topic, and agreed, with the stipulation that it be a positive piece, because I didn’t want to write anything bitchy (I like Victoria. We go out drinking together. I’m kidding. But I do like her). 

At times like these, topics such as fashion, celebrity, diamonds and other examples of jaw-dropping wealth can feel tone deaf and wilfully irrelevant (it’s why the New York Times is currently getting flamed for running a feature on Annie Liebowitz selling her $8m penthouse apartment). But the media’s view is that people need escapism more than ever. Fashion PRs need to keep doing what they do, just like the rest of us. It’s possible to be deeply affected by events and still need respite from them.