The Age of "It's Not My fault"

As many of you know, GGM's reputation grew from not only informed, interesting and stylish content, but our access to the world of  "celebrity." Now on one hand many of you will say, "That is a good thing, so what's the problem?" Well, dealing with 'personalities' is a two edged sword. Yes, on that hand, it gains you, yourself, notoriety. On the other hand, it makes you see on a daily basis, that in most cases, not all, someone becomes a personality or 'star' based on one thing: they are self serving people who are vain, self-centered , they have egos as big as a house and an insatiable need to have folks pay attention to them. The image that you see on TV is more often than not, a fabrication of the marketing/pr firm they employ, or, the delusions we the 'public' ascribe to them.

I witnessed that first hand when given the opportunity to interview a 'celeb chef,' who will remain unnamed, that I personally loved and was a HUGE fan of. My crew and I were treated with disrespect, indifference, like we were an annoying gnat. I was crushed. So obvious was the lack of character of this individual, that many at the event we were covering looked away in discomfort and the pr team with the chef spent the next half hour trying to explain " We're very sorry. It''s not the chefs fault. They are just tired , had a bad day, etc., etc..

This latest incident with the 'barefoot contessa' is a prime example of that mindset. The galling behavior of the chef and her 'team' has now been explained by the statement "I had no idea.. it's not my fault," in an effort to keep the damage to a minimum. History shows that we (the public) will buy that line of thinking, give Ina a pass and go on supporting her career and success. Now I'm not saying that what she and the pr firm are telling us is not what happened. What I am saying is that, her or her people, the ultimate responsibility for what happens with regard to the very PEOPLE WHO MADE HER SUCCESS POSSIBLE, her fans, in the real world lies with no one but INA.

An example of the right way to handle your fans and always do the right thing lies with chef Cat Cora. She is hugely successful, a excellent chef, but more importantly, ALWAYS knows what 'her people' are doing. I had the chance to sit with her for an in depth interview and we spoke of this very thing. She explained that, 'she is never to busy to give her fans time, even when sometimes it is an inconvenience.' She tells the story of how, as a young 16 yr old aspiring chef, she attended a book signing by Julia Child. She was last in line and waited over an hour to get her book signed and speak to the chef. When it was finally her turn, she asked Julia if she could have a few minutes and some advice on becoming a chef, Julia's people, immediately denied her request because ,"it had been an exhausting day and Julia was tired," but Julia being Julia, saw this transpire and told her people to back off. She then spent 45 minutes with Cat, inspiring her to go to culinary school and ultimately become the Iron Chef and awesome family person she has become. Cat told me she has never forgotten that lesson.

Ultimately folks, whether we like it or not, we alone are responsible what we do. We are also responsible for what our 'people' do. Part of the decline in quality and real interaction, whether from celebrity to fan, or just unknown person to unknown person, is the unwillingness to take responsiblity for our own actions, and the actions of people who represent us, in whatever capacity that may be.

We need to remember our success is based on those willing to become a fan, or customer, or friend......and we would do well to remember that without them, there would be no success at all. Should this bring home your own actions, well that is on you.

Don't blame me if the truth hurts...after all....it's not my fault.....*-)