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Hugh Grant was arrested in Hollywood for lewd behavior with a prostitute. He appeared on "The Tonight Show," "Larry King Live," "The Today Show," "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee," and "The Late Show" both to defend his image and to promote his new film, "Nine Months." Grant used mortification, bolstering, attacking one's accuser, and, to a lesser extent, denial to help restore his reputation. This essay uses this case as a springboard to contrast entertainment image repair with political and corporate image repair, arguing that important situational differences can be identified.
KEY CONCEPTS Hugh Grant, image restoration theory, political image repair, corporate image repair
Our face, image, or reputation is so important to us that threats to our image impel us to attempt to restore our reputation. "Image" is the perception of a person (or group, or organization) held by the audience, shaped by the words and actions of that person, as well as by the discourse and behavior of other relevant actors. Higgins and Snyder (1989) explain that "people have a basic need to maintain positive images" (p. 74). Schlenker recognizes that predicaments can "damage" one's identity, "adversely affecting relationships with the audience" (1980, p. 131). Thus, Goffman concludes that "When a face has been threatened, face-work must be done" (1967, p. 27). Threats to one's image often prompt image restoration discourse.
Actor Hugh Grants brush with the law illustrates this notion. His career was definitely on the upswing, with a new, major motion picture ("Nine Months") about to open when he was arrested for lewd behavior with a prostitute. Prior to this incident, he had a generally favorable reputation. The New York Times characterized him as "charming" (Weinraub, 1995, p. B1). Favorable comparisons have been made with Cary Grant, another handsome English actor. Corliss suggested that expectations for actors like Grant contrast sharply with what we expect from others: "Snarly muscular and tortured teen types, the Stallones and Depps, are supposed to misbehave; it's part of their public profile." Grant, on the other hand, is "an Oxford grad peddling a boyish, domestic charm" (1995, p. 58).
After Grant's arrest, the picture was decidedly different. The New York Times printed his mug shot on page one of its "Living Arts" section....