Crisis PR for a Bad Substack Post
Accountability is being taken.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Chortleman Crisis Relations Issues the Following Statement on Behalf of Greg Nix, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Chortle Industries LLC, Regarding Recent Events
To my valued subscribers:
For the past two days, I have tried to remain silent. It was my hope that the “controversy” would subside on its own and that this community could begin to heal. It has not. And so I am addressing it directly: my most recent post, “Misunderstood Artists of the 21st Century,” received only five likes on Substack — well below my average of twelve to fifteen likes.
I am here to listen, to learn, to do better, and, most importantly, to be funnier.
It would be easy to point fingers. But I am not here to relitigate whether it was actually an excellent humor concept with strong execution that simply went underappreciated. That is not the point. Mistakes were made. A post was published. Five people liked it. I am focused on the future.
What I will say is this: the person who wrote “Misunderstood Artists of the 21st Century” is not the same person who is writing these words today. I have grown. I have reflected. I have had several important and necessary conversations — with myself, primarily, but also with my incredibly expensive crisis team. The work I’ve done over the last 48 hours cannot be overstated.
I also want to address the question of accountability. It’s important that I take responsibility for the post written and published under my name, fully and without reservation. At the same time, scholars have long noted that humor is subjective. Also, people have a lot of emails to get through on Monday mornings, so they might not have as much time as usual to click the like button. I am not pointing this out to deflect. I am pointing it out because context matters, and because I believe in transparency.
To the five of you who liked the post: thank you. Your support during this difficult time has meant everything to me, and I want you to know that I see you.
I am using this moment as an opportunity to ask myself the hard questions. Am I funny? I believe that I am. Can I be funnier? Almost certainly. Will I be? I am attempting the process of exploring what that action looks like. That’s my promise to you.
With humility, gratitude, and a renewed sense of purpose,
Greg Nix
Media inquiries may be directed to Chortleman Crisis Relations. Greg Nix is not available for further comment at this time.
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