On April 7 a story broke alleging that Hollywood Star Rob Lowe was being sued by his children’s former Nanny, Jessica Gibson, for “a laundry list of false terribles” including sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment is serious, abhorrent and sadly all too common. The Hollywood star and the Nanny is hardly a new or sensational tabloid plot line. What makes this story interesting is that it wasn’t a tabloid, entertainment news program, or celebrity magazing that broke the story. In fact it wasn’t a media outlet at all. What makes this story interesting is that it was Rob Lowe who broke this story…via his blog.
In a preemptive strike Lowe blogged in detail (including transcripts of text messages sent between the feuding parties) about Gibson. He alledges that Gibson blackmailed his family, demanding they pay her $1.5 million or else she would divulge personal family details and accused them of vicious falsehoods.
This allowed Lowe to clearly express his argument and indeed set the tone of the issue in an unsaturated media environment. There was no spin, no hyped tabloid exclusives, just Lowes version of the facts.
This begs the question – in a new social media environment, is your best defence an offence???
Obviously an allegations of sexual harassment need to be formally and fairly dealt with in a court of law, however in Hollywood, celebrities must also face the court of public opinion. And, in my opinion Lowe is coming out the public victor.
His post is written in an articulate and heartfelt manner. He came across as a staunch defender of family and (miraculously) a crusader for respect in the workplace.
Meanwhile, Gibson, who appeared on the American Today show came across (in my opinion) as a childish idiot. A profile building charity case for slimy, forceful celebrity lawyer Gloria Allard. She smiled and giggled her way through the interview. Nothing in her demeanor expressed the seriousness of the allegations.
Lowe is powerful. He is politically and media savvy, a democratic supporter who blogs often and eloquently on the Huffington Post. He has publically dealt with allegations of sexual misconduct in the past. He is a brilliant actor (I challenge anyone who disputes this to hold their contention after watching seasons 1- 4 of The West Wing).
Conversely…
Gibson is powerless. She doesn’t strike me as particularly intelligent. She stopped working for the Lowe and later returned three times in the past 7 years. Why on earth would anyone who is being abused do this? I don’t care how much you love the kids or need the job. I would happily do a few shifts at McDonalds if it meant getting out of a sexually threatening situation. Her actions are not those of someone who is being ill-treated, or if they are - she is a moron. After her stint on the today show i doubt Gibson will have the Hollywood studio’s knocking down her door.
No one, bar the Lowe family and Gibson, know what truly happened. Someone is lying. If it is her she is a pathetic money grabber desperate for her 15 minutes. If it is him he is a despicable human being not fit for society.
New media is having an impact. What I don’t know is if new media serves as a positive democratising force or simply to make the powerful more powerful.
