Stupid PR Watch: She’s Hot, so Interview Her

I received last week one of the most unprofessional leads to a PR pitch I’ve ever received.

“Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!” began the pitch. “Denise is beautiful and an excellent interview. Thought her words of wisdom are important.”

Attached to the pitch was an opinion piece and a photo of Denise, which revealed her to be a reasonably attractive woman. I responded with an e-mail asking what Denise’s physical appearance had to do with anything and have yet to hear back.

But in any case, what the hell does Denise’s physical appearance have to do with anything? Does the PR rep who sent this pitch think the reporters on her list are so shallow they’ll be more likely to interview a woman because she’s hot?

OK, so maybe I am that shallow, but other reporters on that list must have some standards, no?

Imagine how the female reporters who received that pitch reacted. Can you say: “Set the women’s movement back by 50 years?”

Next they’ll send a pitch saying she cries easily so don’t be too hard on her.

And think of the other pitch possibilities this opens up:

“She so hot, whenever she touches her ass, steam shoots out of her index finger!”

Or:

“She’s so smokin’ that when she taught middle school, she had to stop calling the boys up to stand in front of the class for fear of embarrassing them.”

Or:

“You pencil-necked male print reporters aren’t going to get within 100 feet of a woman this attractive outside your professional lives, so you might as well interview her. Maybe she’ll tell you what she’s wearing. As for the women, make sure you ask her for beauty tips.”

Or:

“Check out the photo attached. I can’t promise anything, but maybe you’ll get a lap dance.”

The only question is: Who wanted the reference to Denise’s physical appearance in the pitch, her or her PR rep?

Either way, the answer’s not pretty.