How Victoria and David Beckham handle parenting Harper despite criticism – exclusive
Hello Magazine
As one of the most famous families on the planet, many might have expected Victoria and David Beckham’s four children to be thrown into the chaos of Hollywood and perhaps dealt with some hiccups along the way.
Instead, Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 19, and 13-year-old Harper have grown into respectable young people with their own ambitions and personalities.
PR and crisis advisor Mark Borkowski explained to HELLO! that the Beckham offspring are a “credit” to their extremely well-known parents thanks to their upbringing.
Mia Regan standing with Romeo Beckham, Cruz Beckham, Harper Beckham, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz© Gareth Cattermole
The couple share four children Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper
Unlike stars of a similar ilk, the dizzying heights of fame and their starry lifestyle haven’t prompted Victoria and David’s four children to veer down a troubled path.
“Despite the criticism they have faced over the years, David and Victoria have always come across as very good parents,” Mark said.
“Even with such a publicly visible life, they have managed to bring up the kids well and that comes down to sound parenting.”
Mark continued: “They’ve not got their kids running in and out of rehab, like many celebrity couples in Hollywood.”
This was made more than clear in David’s successful Netflix release, Beckham, an open and honest docu-series that gifted him millions of streams and a Primetime Emmy Award, in which he detailed the highs and lows of his stellar footballing career, his humble, working-class upbringing and how he wanted to instil similar values in his children.
Prince Harry’s run to ‘salvage’ what he can with Meghan Markle laid bare
Geo News
Prince Harry’s chase to find his lost star power has just become a topic of major discussion.
UK PR specialist Mark Borkowski made public the ‘real reason’ he feels caused the coupe to separate, on a professional sphere.
He began by noting that it started when the couple came to a realization, a bit earlier on that their “star power wasn’t as successful as they hoped.”
Hence while talking about their split he said, “There has been a separation [of their work] for a while. Harry is ‘going back to basics’ with a formula that worked well for him as a Royal Family member,” but “there’s also the realization that the couple’s ‘star power’ wasn’t as successful as they hoped.”
Trump and Brexit: a rejection of systems out of touch with the masses
The Influence Online
People aren’t connecting with mainstream media’s narratives anymore, they crave something raw, unfiltered, and, above all, entertaining
By Mark Borkowski
Do we have a blind spot? Is there a delusion we can’t see? When Trump won in 2016, and Brexit divided the nation, the “experts” didn’t pause to question what they missed. Instead, they cocooned themselves in an echo chamber, stuck in a loop talking about interference and manipulation. Looking back, they were utterly disconnected from Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s “great unwashed.”
It’s about time we recognised that Trump and Brexit weren’t random flukes; they were seismic rejections of a system out of touch with the masses. We see more and more polarisation across the media and in our everyday lives, that anyone who opposes our worldview is ignorant or dangerous.
Waning institutions
This has led to a new dynamic emerging – the influence of legacy institutions is waning, overtaken by voices like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk. Why? Because people aren’t connecting with mainstream media’s narratives anymore, they crave something raw, unfiltered, and, above all, entertaining.
These voices appeal to the increased polarisation and Trump, channelling the ghost of PT Barnum, understands this better than anyone. His soundbites are forged in the pantomime of WWE – political theatre designed to thrill, where connecting with the audience trumps decorum. This is precisely the appeal for his supporters: it’s visceral, unvarnished, and miles away from the policy talk insiders cling to.
The 2024 election has cemented this profound shift. Traditional gatekeepers, once the arbiters of truth, are being replaced by a decentralised network of influencers who understand that perception is now the currency of influence.
Consensus or connection
We’re entering an era where people craft their own reality, gravitating toward voices that resonate emotionally rather than those conforming to the old rulebook. In this landscape, truth is less about consensus and more about connection.
This shift doesn’t diminish the critical role of journalism; it underscores the need for storytellers who can adapt and who understand that capturing the public’s attention today means meeting them where they are, not where we think they should be.
Nevertheless, our industry must pay attention to the real pulse of change – it isn’t coming from newsrooms but from the disruptors and showmen who know that, in this new era, the performance is the message.
Strictly’s Graziano Di Prima breaks silence for first time in months after being axed from BBC series
The Mirror
His message was met with a wall of support from those who have been eager to see what he does next. One wrote in response to his video and message: “This is the moment I and all the people who love you have been waiting for! Welcome back my dearest wonderful friend. I am so immensely proud of you! You lead by example with your strength, determination, resilience, not to mention your talent. Go Graz and keep dancing for us forever! Love you.”
Graziano brought shame on Strictly when it was revealed he had kicked former Love Island contestant Zara while they worked together on the 2023 season of the show. PR agent Mark Borkowski told the BBC in July: “There is never a time when kicking, or any sense of that is right. And he knows that. He knows he’s made a mistake. He apologised at the time.”
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-strictlys-graziano-di-prima-34094688
Mike Tyson v Jake Paul is the apex event of content masquerading as sport
The Guardian
Mark Borkowski is the public relations maestro who has worked with everyone from Mikhail Gorbachev to Diego Maradona to Jim Rose, an American exhibitionist who used to hang weights from his penis. Borkowski also helped Ian Botham recreate Hannibal’s walk across the Alps with elephants, and, for his sins, was the mastermind behind Cliff Richard’s Saviour’s Day reaching Christmas No 1, despite minimal radio play. So who better to talk about the biggest sporting stunt of the year, Mike Tyson’s fight against Jake Paul, which will be streamed into 300m homes via Netflix this weekend?
Instinctively, as I told Borkowksi, I hate the idea. Most boxing fans do. It sells a myth that wasn’t even close to being a reality in 2004, let alone 2024: namely that Tyson is one of the most ferocious warriors alive, not a 58-year-old who lost 26lb in May after an ulcer flare-up that left him throwing up blood and defecating tar. It risks Tyson’s boxing reputation and his health. And, Netflix’s lavish promotion aside, it feels more like a sham or a circus than a genuine sporting event.
But I may be wrong. Certainly Borkowksi thinks so. He believes the fight is straight out of the playbook of PT Barnum, the greatest showman of all and a curator of the absurd and extraordinary, who instinctively knew what the public wanted long before they did. And that it will cut through to the masses.
“Barnum understood how to engage the crowd – the great herd, the great unwashed,” he says. “This fight is about opportunism. It’s about creative thinking. And it is already generating the oxygen of publicity, which is always an indication that something is going to be very successful.”
As Borkowski points out, it taps into two big markets: Boomers and Gen Xers, who grew up watching Tyson, as well as the younger generations who worship Jake Paul, many of whom will want to watch.
“A lot of people, particularly boys, project themselves into male influencers like Paul,” he says. “In some ways, they are their best mates – whether it’s watching them play Call of Duty, or seeing the Jackass-influenced generation of pranksters doing outrageous things on social. So they will be watching this. And so will those who grew up with Tyson in his prime. So while purists might sneer, there’s a market for this. And Netflix knows it.”
But it’s not entirely sport, is it? Borkowksi doesn’t demur. But he is not sure that it matters, as long as the fight – in the early hours of Saturday, UK time – delivers in some way. “The root of this fight is absolutely that of World Wrestling Entertainment,” he says. “It’s a fusion of sport and entertainment. You feel that part of it is staged. Will anybody get seriously hurt? I doubt it, given they are wearing 14-ounce gloves. So it is more WWE than WBA.”
He then delivers the ultimate endorsement. “I’d be only too pleased to come up with something like this,” he says.
Borkowksi isn’t alone in believing Netflix is on to a winner. Adam Kelly, the president of media of the global sports rights agency IMG, feels much the same way. And, having worked closely with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Al Haymon to help promote and stage Floyd Mayweather versus Conor McGregor in 2017, he sees Tyson versus Paul as having similar crossover appeal.
Meghan Markle Is Making Big Moves With Her Cooking Show & This Unexpected Product
MSN
While she’s hoping to launch a lifestyle brand that’s as successful as Martha Stewart, fans have yet to see any products in her ARO line so far. That situation might be changing very soon, and it’s not the jam that will be making its way to people’s kitchens. According to the Daily Mail, the first product from ARO will be rosé wine, similar to Cameron Diaz’s Avaline or Brad Pitt’s (and formerly Angelina Jolie’s) Château Miraval. The outlet describes the decision to launch a wine brand as “aspirationally marketable” and “financially lucrative.”
PR consultant Mark Borkowski told The Daily Beast that he’s watching the Duchess of Sussex’s marketing moves carefully with her cooking show and new products. He explained, “If she has listened and learned and is comfortable in this new role as a kind of sub-Martha Stewart, sub-Oprah, this could be a relaunch to something new and interesting.” Borkowski believes that Meghan “will always generate massive interest” from the media no matter what she touches.
“She brings eyeballs and that means there is a long line of people who would still want to align with her,” he added. “She will always attract somebody who will want to leverage her brand.” The Daily Mail also thinks her rosé launch will also inspire high-end barware, including elegant glasses and other essentials in a “classic, but expensive, style.” It sounds like the perfect pivot for the Duchess.
How Musk & Rogan helped power Trump’s win …Tech & Science Daily podcast
The Standard
Donald Trump has been re-elected as Republican president of the United States, beating his Democratic rival Kamala Harris by a considerable margin.
Tech & Science Daily looks at Team Trump’s digital communications strategy, Elon Musk’s backing and Republican’s important decision to bet big on podcasts, notably Joe Rogan, in contrast to the Democratic candidate’s media gameplan.
You can hear expert insight from with Mark Borkowski, founder of the Borkowski PR agency, which specialises in crisis and digital communications.
Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ‘separate lives’ rumours from solo events to pal’s shutdown
Mirror
It came after Harry attended a charity event for first responders held by Hollywood actor Kevin Costner without Meghan, who was reportedly sick and was unable to attend – several weeks after their joint trip to Colombia. The apparent pursuit of separate careers has also seen rumours swirl about their private life with one report alleging Harry spent the night of his 40th birthday with pals on a hiking holiday instead of his wife.
However, a source close to the couple told The Sun : “It is normal for couples to not do everything together” – and said it was Meghan who arranged the trip for her husband. But even Harry and Meghan’s local newspaper, t he Montecito Journal picked up on the gossip surrounding the couple about their “increasingly separate lives”
However, experts have explained why the couple appear to be on separate paths – especially when it comes to their careers. PR expert Mark Borkowski told The Telegraph that the Sussexes’ “separation of work” has been ongoing for a while now, especially as Meghan works on her new American Riviera Orchard brand.
And he believes the reason behind their solo appearances is because their “star power” as a couple that they believed they might have had when they dramatically quit their royal roles “didn’t work”. He explained: “They had to change the narrative. They need a venture that deflects from the failures.
“The charity aspect impresses upon everybody that he [Harry] does have value beyond the controversial stuff. It has the effect of separating them from the bad press and the failed content ideas. The punters still have time for Harry.”
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/us-celebrity-news/inside-prince-harry-meghan-markle-33968433
I work with celebrities. After Liam Payne’s death, can’t we treat them as humans and not gods?
Guardian
As a showbiz publicist, I know about the Faustian pact between famous people and the public. Stars think they understand it, but they really don’t.
As the worldwide tributes continue, the tragic death of Liam Payne at the cruel age of just 31 has shaken the foundations of how we perceive celebrity and fame. As a publicist and strategist who has worked with many famous people, I know something about this. They are just like us – but they are different.
Fame is as seductive as it is destructive. It offers an irresistible promise: transcendence from the mundane, and the opportunity to be more than just another face in the crowd. But it also demands a sacrifice: once your head is above the parapet of anonymity, it’s very rare to be able to submerge back into the crowd on your own terms. And most insiders know this, or at least they think they do.
In my experience, celebrities enter this Faustian bargain understanding, on some level, the loss of privacy it demands. Yet few truly comprehend the depths of that loss until they are fully exposed to its glare. Celebrity in 2024 is like stepping into a spotlight that continues to follow you when you leave the stage.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/22/liam-payne-death-celebrity-fame
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Split Ventures Amid Separation Rumours
The Daily Guardian
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appear to be taking separate public paths to boost their brand, according to PR expert Mark Borkowski. The couple’s recent individual appearances have sparked speculation that they are focusing on solo ventures due to their combined “star power” not achieving the success they had hoped for.
Borkowski explained that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are shifting their narrative, stating, “There has been a separation of their work for a while. They had to change the narrative.” He suggested their individual pursuits are a strategic move to enhance their personal brands.
https://thedailyguardian.com/prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-split-ventures-amid-separation-rumours/
Tragic Liam Payne was churned out by the pop machine that breaks its stars… inside the dark secrets of boyband fame
The Sun
PR guru Mark Borkowski agrees that reality shows and record companies that thrust young vulnerable people into the limelight need to do more to protect them.
He tells The Sun: “What the industry is not good at is shielding people from the toxicity of fame. People at the centre of it are forgotten.
“Fame is not the baubles and the glitter. Fame is a very dark force. I don’t think enough is being talked about on that level.”
Psychologist Jo Hemmings says: “Your life literally changes overnight. You’re just an ordinary kid who’s applied for a show – it’s very exciting, lots of adrenaline, enthusiasm.
“It’s every young boy’s dream. But then there’s a sense that your life isn’t really your own.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/31139708/liam-payne-boyband-curse-stars-damaging-fame/
Prince Harry turning to ‘basics’ as Meghan ‘star power’ fails
Geo News
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who aimed to progress with a common brand, have opted for a new strategy now.
PR guru Mark Borkowski told Best magazine: “There has been a separation [of their work] for a while.
“Harry is ‘going back to basics’ with a formula that worked well for him as a Royal Family member, but there’s also the realisation that the couple’s ‘star power’ wasn’t as successful as they hoped.
“They had to change the narrative,” he notes.
Meanwhile, royal correspondent Jennie Bond says: “Meghan is not popular. She doesn’t want to come back and they are going their own ways, to some extent.”
https://www.geo.tv/latest/569413-prince-harry-turning-to-basics-as-meghan-star-power-fails
Prince Harry goes ‘back to basics’ with ‘Royal Family formula’ as ‘star power’ with Meghan Markle dwindles, says PR pro
The Sun
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have undertaken a number of solo engagements lately, and Mark Borkowski claims Harry is going back to his “Royal Family formula”.
PR guru Mark Borkowski told Best magazine: “There has been a separation [of their work] for a while.
“Harry is ‘going back to basics’ with a formula that worked well for him as a Royal Family member, but there’s also the realisation that the couple’s ‘star power’ wasn’t as successful as they hoped.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/royals/31108565/prince-harry-returns-royal-family-formula-meghan-markle/
Tragic Liam Payne was churned out by the pop machine that breaks its stars… inside the dark secrets of boyband fame
The Sun
PR guru Mark Borkowski agrees that reality shows and record companies that thrust young vulnerable people into the limelight need to do more to protect them.
He tells The Sun: “What the industry is not good at is shielding people from the toxicity of fame. People at the centre of it are forgotten.
“Fame is not the baubles and the glitter. Fame is a very dark force. I don’t think enough is being talked about on that level.”
Psychologist Jo Hemmings says: “Your life literally changes overnight. You’re just an ordinary kid who’s applied for a show – it’s very exciting, lots of adrenaline, enthusiasm.
“It’s every young boy’s dream. But then there’s a sense that your life isn’t really your own.
“You’re away from your family a great deal of the time, you’re away from your friends. You can’t have that ordinary life.
“Also, there was no building up a career, doing the pub circuit. I don’t think you can underestimate the impact of going from zero to hero overnight.”
Strictly Come Dancing’s Wynne Evans and Katya Jones scandal sparks fears for BBC show
Liverpool Echo
Strictly Come Dancing is facing a tough time this year, with a wave of “negativity” hitting the show, as highlighted by recent events involving Wynne Evans and Katya Jones, according to a PR expert. Opera singer Wynne Evans expressed his devastation, saying he was “heartbroken” over the backlash following what he and dance partner Katya later called a “misjudged” joke, reports Wales Online.
During Saturday’s Strictly episode, Wynne was seen placing his hand on Katya Jones’ stomach, which she promptly brushed off. This wasn’t the only tense moment for the duo; in another part of the show, Katya seemed to snub Wynne’s attempt at a high five before turning towards the camera. The Times cites Mark Borkowski, a crisis PR consultant, who believes these incidents suggest “that Strictly this year is struggling. There seems to be more negativity about Strictly than there is positivity.”
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/tv/strictly-come-dancings-wynne-evans-30147838
Kate Middleton Returns With a New Royal Role
WSJ
While British Gen Xers and boomers have been conditioned by traditional media to revere the royals, younger generations are more skeptical, polls show. “To be relevant, the institution will need to change and will need to embrace strong women,” says Mark Borkowski, a British public relations adviser who has worked with numerous celebrities. By necessity, Kate will have to more actively take her place on center stage, he says. “I think she will become a campaigner, but it will be a slow unveiling.”
From a lewd act on a boat to explicit outfits and now a fake divorce: All of Kanye West and Bianca Censori’s ridiculous antics as they are branded ‘attention-grabbing narcissists’
Mail Online
British PR expert Mark Borkowski told Dailymail.com that the eye-catching ensemble was West’s attempt to establish Censori as a pop culture figure on par with that of his former spouse.
‘This is a statement and Kanye West sees the media as his canvas and sees this as an opportunity to paint his picture,’ he said. ‘Bianca is his artwork and his muse and the person he influences to create a statement.’
Borkowski added: ‘I think this is a well sculptured PR stunt but artists create art and this is what Kanye West is doing.’
Experts Explain Why Prince Harry Appears ‘So Much Better on His Own’ Than When He Attends Events With Meghan
Cheat Sheet
As PR strategist Mark Borkowski told the Daily Telegraph: “There has been a separation [of their work] for a while. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to think there’s something going on. She has been doing the jam thing, the Martha Stewart play. He seems to be going back to basics.”
How Bianca Censori’s split from Kanye West could kickstart her new Karadashian-esque career
Mail Online
Meanwhile, Britain’s leading PR guru Mark Borkowski told MailOnline today that Bianca is in a perfet position to cast herself as a feminist icon and ‘survivor’ of her marriage.
‘Bianca might end up being cast as a survivor of Kanye’s public experimentations, while Kanye, in turn, may be rebranded as the artist who went too far’, he said.
Mr Borkowski has said he is interested to see if Bianca claims that she has been ‘exploited’ as Kanye’s pawn should their marriage collapse, after wearing lewd and outlandish outfits at her husband’s behest.
She could even become a feminist icon as a ‘survivor’, he said.
‘Bianca has been depicted as a sort of accessory in Kanye’s avant-garde, borderline dystopian fashion experiment. The highly curated, often bizarre public appearances—her barely clothed, him in oversized, futuristic garb—for me reeked of a power dynamic that could easily be spun into a “woman as prop” narrative.
‘Should they part ways, this narrative will come charging to the forefront, with critics quick to label her a pawn in Kanye’s erratic public persona machine.
‘If Bianca decides to speak out, or even just make subtle moves, the world could hear a very different story of their relationship. If she plays her cards right, the once-victim narrative could become one of empowerment—her escaping the clutches of Kanye’s controlling, creative chaos.
‘The exploitation angle may not only focus on her but also flip back on Kanye’s entire history of relationships, his treatment of women under the guise of “art.”.’
Kanye West and Bianca Censori’s wildest moments as a couple: A look back amid pair’s split
Mail Online
British PR expert Mark Borkowski told Dailymail.com of the outing that the eye-catching ensemble was West’s attempt to establish Censori as a pop culture figure on par with that of his former spouse.
‘This is a statement and Kanye West sees the media as his canvas and sees this as an opportunity to paint his picture,’ he said. ‘Bianca is his artwork and his muse and the person he influences to create a statement’.
Borkowski added, ‘I think this is a well sculptured PR stunt but artists create art and this is what Kanye West is doing.’