Online PR: Robert Murat Drops Max Clifford
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
NO word from Robert Murat in today’s tabloids. Having been awarded a load of money for being libelled, what odds the tabloids are battling to see which of them can get his interview? But with whom do they negotiate?
Back in May 2007, the Express’s front page asked: “Madeleine: Will the suspect cash in by selling his story?”
In “Maddy suspect’s PR deal” the paper says “oddball” Robert Murat was said to have contacted Max Clifford, the ubiquitous PR guru without whom no fag/shag/slag/hag/gag/lag/nag/wag ‘n’ tell story is complete.
Clifford was quoted as saying:
“When I spoke to Robert, he was in tears and said: ‘I’m innocent and I will prove I am innocent’, and thanked me for listening to him. I told him that provided he is cleared I will be happy to talk to him.”
Murat has not been cleared – he remains an arguido. That may hinder his selling his story. But there’s another problem that might prevent Murat getting his words into OK!. Max Clifford is the subject of a feature in PRWeek:
Clifford said he was disappointed in Murat using his lawyers’ PR agency (The PR Office), when he had previously advised the Briton for free. The PR Office said Murat had ‘changed strategy’…
Says Clifford:
‘Last summer, when his arguido status was put in place by the Portuguese authorities, it signalled the start of a character assassination of Robert Murat by sections of the Portuguese and British media. I was approached by Robert’s family who claimed that Robert and they were having their lives destroyed by this coverage and desperately sought my help.
I totally sympathised with them and agreed to help them just as I have helped many others when facing the worst excesses of the British media. They made it clear that neither Robert nor themselves could afford to pay me and that it was impossible for Robert to work. Nevertheless, I agreed to do whatever I could to help their plight whilst explaining that because of Robert’s arguido status I was unable to officially represent him.
Together with Nicola Phillips from my office, I spent a huge amount of time and effort over many months talking to Robert and his Aunt Sally, often late at night and doing everything possible to help them and stop the unjustifiable media onslaught.
Sop throwing stones at Murat, and, er, his Aunt Sally.
So you can imagine this week how I felt when Robert admitted to me he was paying a PR firm that he had been introduced to by his legal team. Having worked free of charge and in the words of Robert and his Aunt Sally, “been both wonderfully supportive and successful”, I was not happy.
Hard to imagine. But, still, you did help him out, as you have “helped many others when facing the worst excesses of the British media”. It’s nothing short of heroic.
In spite of this I am very pleased with what we at MCA did for Robert and his family, as many of the things written about him without so much as a shred of evidence were totally disgusting.
Indeed. Thanks for pointing it out in a letter to a trade publication.
Robert continues to have a huge battle on his hands to clear his name and to get his life back on track and I wish him and his family every success in achieving this.
For now, I’ll concentrate my time on my many appreciative paying clients and my continued battle with prostate cancer.’
Show me the money. Sympathy? No. Just business…
Story spotter: Carmen
Picture: Marc Moninski
July 19th, 2008 at 11:29 am
first
July 19th, 2008 at 11:34 am
~Katona
July 19th, 2008 at 11:50 am
11th!
July 19th, 2008 at 11:52 am
chenier
no one cares about max we are still gossiping on the other one
July 19th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Why no numbers for posts ?
Why no individual pages ?
Why do I, and everyone else, have a keyhole next to username ?
Why is it raining ?
M and A
Update blip
ditto
ahwell that would be telling
when isn’t it ? global warming, global sodding drowning you tell me……
July 19th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
matt come over to the previous one!!!!!
shocking news
July 19th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Hi, brandon.
Does the previous one suffer from the same problemos ?
July 19th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
yes
July 19th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Keyhole… brandon flours
Darn.
July 19th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Joana Morais and McCannfiles still did not translate the Correio da Manhã of today .
Perhaps they are not yet allowed to do it, to protect the paper edition.
But there is a short story published in Joana Morais that paralizes me.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Afternoon all. I spend so much time cross posting because I dash in and out and can’t keep up!
Brandon…. hope I didn’t misread your Ben K post! I found it quite disrespectful for a funeral. I agree with a celebration of life when someone elderly dies, but when a young lad is knifed to death, making a party of his funeral makes me feel very uncomfortable.
……………………………….
Re: the other stuff….. If it were true, surely the PJ would have informed the Brit police in January who would have dug VERY deep as they do with such allegations.
Joana Morais may well find herself blogged out this time. She certainly gives a whole new dimension to the word despicable for virtually salivating over it.
Imagine having your character, and maybe your career, assasinated on rumour and innuendo. Many of us supported Robert Murat for that, what of anyone else?
…………………………………
Max Clifford. I certainly wouldn’t ever want to cross him, no way! A friend of mine is represented by him and he is ruthless. Brilliant to have on-side, dangerous offside!
July 19th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Go to the older thread . . . ..
July 19th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
VQ. thanks. Gone!! even if I am completely confused. Oh well, back to work in a minute so shan’t try and figure it all out!
July 20th, 2008 at 12:26 am
I wish that everyone who is making money on the back of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance would have to experience the last 5 minutes of her life, in full living technicolour, as if it had happened to them. (If she is still alive, then any random current 5 minutes of her life will do.)
Over and over again, if necessary, until they get the message.
Perhaps I finally understand why humans had to invent hell.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I try to leave a comment.
I noticed that when there are real interesting things to be commented, it goes wrong with the threads, specially about Maddie.
Somebody from outside could be the one who is doing it.
Will the McCanns sleep well tonight?
M and A
Fraid we still have the blip, just post as normal, it works still.
Probably
September 30th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
It appears unsuspecting Max Clifford was set up, used and abused, along with PJ and countless others in the McCanns’ case. People habitually used for free for the McCanns’ benefit.
Max Clifford’s surprise at Murat’s low settlement figure, allegedly received from libellous media reports, raises the question as to it’s accuracy in the absence of supporting evidence. Murat’s silence certainly had to be secured after arguido status was lifted and news of a substantial sum being paid to Murat pretty much confirms he’ll be sued if he speaks.
If the DX’s proclamation of paying the McCanns £500,000 is true, then Murat’s lawyers short changed him if suing several tabloids was true.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
The trusting Priest was used and abused …. countless thereafter and I doubt Max Clifford will be the last; a true professional and a devoted family man. Murat reportedly had a ‘visit’ from a wealthy McCann backer shortly before he received a substantial settlement.
There’s a repeat pattern of ‘disposal’ in this sinister case.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
hey jean - you should post on the latest threads !