Saturday November 1, 2014
PR firm dumps Jian Ghomeshi over ‘lies,’ sources say
Jian Ghomeshi was dumped by Navigator, the high-profile crisis management firm retained to protect his public image, because the company believed Ghomeshi lied to them, sources have told Toronto Star.
“He lied to the firm,” said a source with knowledge of the situation.
According to the sources, until late Sunday night, Navigator was “buying (Ghomeshi’s) story” that it was a jilted ex-girlfriend who had manufactured lies that Ghomeshi was abusive. One source said the former CBC radio star had convinced the firm that there were no other allegations and there was nothing to be “concerned” about.
Then, as a Star investigation showed at least eight women were making serious allegations of assault or sexual harassment against Ghomeshi, the firm decided at a series of meetings that it could not represent someone who, in their opinion, had lied.
The Star was not able to determine if publicity firm Rock-it Promotions dropped Ghomeshi for the same reason. A source with knowledge of the Rock-it situation said that firm, which had been with Ghomeshi for two years (Navigator was a recent hire) was disappointed as more and more allegations surfaced.
Both companies issued releases Thursday afternoon announcing they had cut ties with Ghomeshi, but neither said why. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)