Us’ Mission Impossible Into Tom Cruise’s Secret Life: Scientology, Fatherhood and Dating
US Weekly
PR guru Mark Borkowski says Cruise is a unique being in an overexposed world. “In an age when celebrity is measured in clickbait and confessionals, he’s Houdini with a dollop of old-Hollywood glamour,” he tells Us. “He’s one of the few who understands that mystique — curated silence, not curated content — is more potent than a thousand influencer confessionals.”
'If You Are Close to Tom Cruise, You Don't Gossip': Insiders Tell Us
Exclusive: Prince William and Prince Harry’s lives are worlds apart
Hello Mag
PR and media consultant Mark Borkowski believes that the couple’s busy social-media strategy, including the unprecedented twerking video, is a way to keep themselves in the spotlight.
“I think that, particularly in America and with the way the media is consumed, it is about not being out of the headlines,” he tells us. “They know that if they can keep the spotlight, there’s always a business deal, because if you’re launching something, you need attention. They have to generate money; they have, undoubtedly, a very expensive lifestyle.
“Any noise that’s created around them gets eyeballs: that’s data, that’s clicks, that’s money. I think what Meghan and Harry have done is to unconsciously create a live 24/7 soap opera. It’s not far away from the Kardashian brand.
He adds: “The person who gets forgotten about is Harry: this is the Meghan show. Here is a man built for purpose and service and, in my eyes, there is a sense that he is a very different kind of spare now.”
https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/836943/prince-william-prince-harry-worlds-apart/
They’re perfect – until they aren’t’: why are people so interested in the Beckxit beef
The Guardian
The timing of the Glamour piece was terrible or brilliant, “depending on whose publicist you were”, said the PR agent Mark Borkowski, who helped revive Noel Edmonds’ career. But however you look at it, it is “absolutely a war of spin”, he said of the shoot. “It’s what I call a visual soundbite. These images often don’t always have the meaning we imbue them with. But we still feed off of it because we are all culprits driven by twitching.”
The real reason why David Beckham is finally getting a knighthood after years of rejection
The Express
But despite the ex-England captain’s carefully-curated image, “skeletons in his closet” are likely to have delayed the crowning honour. “Beckham’s alleged involvement in a tax avoidance scheme was a PR nightmare,” public relations expert Mark Borkowski told the Daily Express. “While the scheme wasn’t illegal, it struck a nerve with both the public and the establishment, especially in an era of heightened scrutiny on wealth inequality.
Leaked emails that year also suggested the former footballer was desperate for a knighthood. On missing out again, he allegedly wrote: “I expected nothing less. It’s a disgrace to be honest and if I was American I would [have] got something like this 10 years ago.”
Branding the incident a “significant PR misstep” Mr Borkowski said: “The incident painted him as entitled and transactional – a cardinal sin for the decorum-obsessed Honours Committee. Beckham has since worked hard to bury this faux pas.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2065397/real-reasons-beckham-finally-getting-knighthood
Meghan Markle Admits to Feeling ‘Incredibly Lonely’ as Harry Pushes ‘Professional Split
Royal Observer
Shortly after the episode aired, the Duchess of Sussex also made a cryptic comment about ‘stepping back’ from her lifestyle brand, As Ever. As per GB News, in an interview with Fast Company, she hinted that she might never restock products such as her raspberry jam amid plans to “step back, gather data from the launch, and figure out exactly what As Ever could be.”
She also revealed that she is not planning to announce new products until the first quarter of 2026. In response, PR guru Mark Borkowski slammed, “One day it’s jam, the next it’s ambiguous talk of stepping back, then it’s whispers of fashion. From a PR standpoint, it’s all theatrics and no third act.”
Markle seems to be reevaluating quite a bit, and so is Harry. Insiders claimed that the Prince had meticulously planned their ‘professional separation’ for nine months upon advice from old friends.
A source told the Daily Mail, “Harry is turning away from all sorts of Hollywood publicists and is seeking counsel from his old friends and associates. He is clearly reaching out, thinking, ‘I need to do something different because what I’m doing is clearly not working.”
Meghan admits she is unlikely to release further products until 2026 as duchess outlines need to ‘step back’
GB News
However, just hours after the interview was published, insiders told MailOnline that a jam restock will in fact be coming soon, prompting questions over the “mixed messages” her lifestyle brand is sending.
Mark Borkowski, arguably Britain’s leading PR guru, told MailOnline: “Meghan’s brand isn’t so much a business as it is an aesthetic experiment, mood over message.
“One day it’s jam, the next it’s ambiguous talk of stepping back, then it’s whispers of fashion. From a PR standpoint, it’s all theatrics and no third act.”
He criticised the brand for having “all the trimmings of curated luxury but no sense of what it’s actually selling, apart from vibes and vague aspiration”.
The comments highlight growing concerns about As Ever’s lack of clear identity and coherent business strategy.
https://www.gbnews.com/royal/meghan-markle-duchess-of-sussex-latest-as-ever-products-2026
It’s like Martha Stewart’s child meets Goop crashed a royal garden party’: Scathing experts say Meghan ‘just sells vibes and aspirations’…with ‘less strategy, more scented candle of confusion
Daily Mail
Mark Borkowski, arguably Britain’s leading PR guru, told MailOnline: ‘Meghan’s brand isn’t so much a business as it is an aesthetic experiment, mood over message.
‘One day it’s jam, the next it’s ambiguous talk of stepping back, then it’s whispers of fashion. From a PR standpoint, it’s all theatrics and no third act.
‘The brand has all the trimmings of curated luxury but no sense of what it’s actually selling, apart from vibes and vague aspiration.
‘It’s like the child of Martha Stewart meets Goop crashed a royal garden party, got distracted by the hydrangeas, and forgot why it showed up. At this point, it’s less a strategy, more a scented candle of confusion.’
Meghan Markle warned against ‘chaotic’ approach after two-month absence
GB News
The continued unavailability of products has only intensified speculation about whether the initial “sold out” status was manufactured to create artificial demand.
Mark Borkowski, a PR expert, has described Meghan’s management of the sold-out launch as “chaos”.
Speaking to Newsweek, Borkowski reflected on how the lack of explanation could be damaging the brand’s image: “As soon as nothing’s happening, people ask questions but therefore her PR has always been chaos.
“Maybe the fact it’s not restocking gives them the opportunity to refresh the story, but there’s just no logic and now of course questions are going to be asked. Do they have the answers?”
https://www.gbnews.com/royal/meghan-markle-latest-royal-family-news
Meghan Markle ‘chaos’ laid bare as she makes ‘big career mistake’
Express Online
Mark Borkowski, a crisis PR consultant and author, told outer Newsweek: “The thing to do is when you’ve got a narrative and you have some positive stories about how quick the stuff sold, is you want to keep it going.
“So therefore, I’m always curious about what the true story is here. I don’t know where this narrative goes. They often forget that the stories they post are scrutinised and have a long shelf life.
The expert added: “As soon as nothing’s happening, people ask questions but therefore her PR has always been chaos. Maybe the fact it’s not restocking gives them the opportunity to refresh the story, but there’s just no logic and now of course questions are going to be asked. Do they have the answers?”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/2059064/meghan-markle-career-mistake-expert-opinion
Meghan Markle’s Big Mistake With As Ever Lifestyle Shop
Newsweek
Mark Borkowski, a U.K.-based crisis PR consultant and author, told Newsweek: “The thing to do is when you’ve got a narrative and you have some positive stories about how quick the stuff sold, is you want to keep it going. So therefore, I’m always curious about what the true story is here. I don’t know where this narrative goes. They often forget that the stories they posit are scrutinized and have a long shelf life.
“As soon as nothing’s happening, people ask questions but therefore her PR has always been chaos. Maybe the fact it’s not restocking gives them the opportunity to refresh the story, but there’s just no logic and now of course questions are going to be asked. Do they have the answers?”
“Maybe she is relying too much on help and is being let down by the very people who were surprised by her success,” Borkowski said, though he also sounded a positive note on Meghan’s overall rebrand.
“She’s still being talked about,” he said. “A lot of celebrities are forgotten, but she’s still being talked about. The bigger story really is about Harry rather than about her. But on the basis of how she operates, which is create noise, create chaos, I exist, then it’s business as normal.”
Borkowski said: “What happens to Harry? That was a big moment, that was a big lump of publicity. More pain and anguish. What happens to him? She’s got a product, she’s got a podcast? What happens to him, how does he exist in this crazy world of their making?”
https://www.newsweek.com/meghan-markle-mistake-ever-lifestyle-shop-2074543
Kevin Spacey to be celebrated at Cannes’ Better World gala
The Guardian
The PR guru Mark Borkowski, an expert in brand and crisis management, said Cannes and the French film world had for many years offered “a huge amount of support” for another controversial figure, Roman Polanski. “They have a track record,” he said.
Borkowski said the award, which could be seen as “the film world taking Spacey back into their bosom”, was clearly a “very significant” moment.
“It feeds into the slow battle Kevin Spacey has fought, which is to get his purpose back. His purpose and whole being is to be an actor and he is, without doubt, one of the most extraordinary acting talents of any generation,” he said.
“He is not someone who has disappeared into the ether; he has fought it all the way and he has powerful supporters because ultimately he made a lot of people a lot of money.”
In terms of brand management, Borkowski said the biggest issue was that people had “short-term memory loss and long-term amnesia”.
“We move on from things. This [the Spacey award] shows that everyone has a shot of redemption; it shows that the further you get away from the noise of a scandal you can change the emotion of the crowd, right or wrong.”
Big tech was changing the world, he continued. “A publicist’s job nowadays is not to convince an editor, it is to turbocharge the algorithm.
“There are a lot of people who want to see Kevin Spacey back. I don’t have an opinion either way but ultimately, whatever he does next it will create clicks, it will create noise … you can’t be mediocre any more.”
Kevin Spacey to be celebrated at Cannes’ Better World gala
The Guardian
The PR guru Mark Borkowski, an expert in brand and crisis management, said Cannes and the French film world had for many years offered “a huge amount of support” for another controversial figure, Roman Polanski. “They have a track record,” he said.
Borkowski said the award, which could be seen as “the film world taking Spacey back into their bosom”, was clearly a “very significant” moment.
“It feeds into the slow battle Kevin Spacey has fought, which is to get his purpose back. His purpose and whole being is to be an actor and he is, without doubt, one of the most extraordinary acting talents of any generation,” he said.
“He is not someone who has disappeared into the ether; he has fought it all the way and he has powerful supporters because ultimately he made a lot of people a lot of money.”
In terms of brand management, Borkowski said the biggest issue was that people had “short-term memory loss and long-term amnesia”.
“We move on from things. This [the Spacey award] shows that everyone has a shot of redemption; it shows that the further you get away from the noise of a scandal you can change the emotion of the crowd, right or wrong.”
Big tech was changing the world, he continued. “A publicist’s job nowadays is not to convince an editor, it is to turbocharge the algorithm.
“There are a lot of people who want to see Kevin Spacey back. I don’t have an opinion either way but ultimately, whatever he does next it will create clicks, it will create noise … you can’t be mediocre any more.”
David Beckham’s close royal ties as son Brooklyn sides with Prince Harry in feud
Express
PR guru and crisis communications specialist Mark Borkowski previously told Express.co.uk: “Let’s not forget, relationships with the monarchy are as much about optics as they are about genuine connection. Beckham’s willingness to respond to royal requests ‘without hesitation’ showcases his dependability – an appealing trait for the establishment.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/2055471/david-beckham-close-ties-royal-family
‘They’re not selling fashion – they’re selling a dream’: the latest celebrity clan in clothes
The Guardian
Last week, Cindy Crawford, her husband, Rande Gerber, and their two children, Kaia and Presley, announced a “first-of-its-kind partnership” with the Californian sportswear and lifestyle brand Vuori. Kicking things off with a campaign, it sees the menage frolicking in front of a Malibu beach house, all long limbs, glowing skin and gleaming Hollywood smiles.
The British PR consultant and author Mark Borkowski describes the decision by the Crawford-Gerbers to mould as a single entity as “intergenerational branding”. While the Kardashians have set the precedent for monetising the family brand, Borkowski thinks the Crawford-Gerbers’ approach seems less opportunistic. “They are playing a much longer and more subtle game.” He points to Crawford and Gerber’s long, scandal-free marriage as their commercial secret weapon. “Brands don’t want controversy. They know they aren’t going to do a stupid Instagram stunt and have to pick up the pieces. They’re not selling fashion – they’re selling a dream.”
In 2016, Crawford first suggested that her family may have cross-generational appeal when she appeared on the cover of Vogue Paris with Kaia. Nine years later, they are ramping up their influence. The 2003 TV documentary The Supers introduced Cindy to gen Z. Last week, Crawford and Kaia hosted a live online shopping event for the high street giant Zara. And on Monday, Kaia was announced as the new face of Mango. By focusing on high street brands and upmarket lifestyle labels, Borkowski says the duo “fuse mass accessibility with stealth-wealth aspiration”.
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/may/07/fashion-statement-cindy-crawford-kaia-gerber
‘Heartbreaking’ David Beckham ‘feud’ shows family ‘can’t escape,’ PR expert claims
The Mirror
Speaking about the matter to the Telegraph, public relations consultant Mark Borkowski highlighted how difficult it must be for David to deal with such public speculation over a very private matter.
He told the publication: “It’s heartbreaking when your dispute is played out in public – it must be incredibly difficult. This is the dark side of fame: there’s no place to hide.
“It also goes to show that however wealthy and powerful you are, you can’t escape family problems – just like everyone else.”
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/heartbreaking-david-beckham-feud-shows-35177573
The ‘toxic feud’ at the heart of the Beckham family
The Telegraph
Public relations consultant Mark Borkowski says: “It’s heartbreaking when your dispute is played out in public – it must be incredibly difficult. This is the dark side of fame: there’s no place to hide. It also goes to show that however wealthy and powerful you are, you can’t escape family problems – just like everyone else.”
All the children have had to endure the pressure of growing up in the limelight, although Borkowski believes that their parents “understood what the kids were dealing with and tried their utmost to protect them”.
Borkowski compares the situation to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s falling out with the Royal family. “Brooklyn clearly loves his wife, just as Harry loves Meghan, but it’s similar to how people feel Meghan is this disruptive influence in his life. There are no compromises there.”
While previously Brooklyn had always posted a public message to his mother on her birthday, he remained silent this April when Victoria turned 51 – nor did he and Nicola attend her celebrations aboard a superyacht in Florida, instead going to the Coachella music festival in California.
Reports suggest the couple have now missed a dozen family events in the past year. But onlookers were still taken aback by Brooklyn’s no-show at his father’s milestone soiree.
“It must be incredibly hurtful to a father who’s given him everything,” says Borkowski.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/05/toxic-feud-heart-beckham-family/
Prince Harry in PR crisis as charity boss makes bombshell accusations
Express
Forget the endless carousel of Sussex fails. There are opinions galore about Sussex Netflix deals and Sussex “exclusives” feeding the algorithmic maw. But Sentebalegate is far more worrying. Strip away all that’s gone before and what you’re left with now is something much more severe, and far more damaging. This isn’t the latest PR wobble. This is legacy-threatening. The latest fallout at Sentebale is the moment when the Harry brand meets brutal, unrelenting consequences. There has been too many negative stories PR this one tips the scales
The awkward optics are stacking up like discarded treatments. That upbeat, business-as-usual, nothing-to-see-here routine-while the charity he co-founded collapses under a storm of accusations lands with all the emotional authenticity of an Insta influencer’s “authentic vulnerability” post. Yes, every argument has two sides. But Harry’s constant drip-feed of negative headlines is now more than a PR pattern – it’s a full-blown rift that’s feeding the global news cycle
This was supposed to be different. Sentebale wasn’t a side hustle or a sympathy tour, it was the soul of Harry’s post-royal identity. A charity rooted in his mother’s legacy, tackling real issues, on the ground, far from the Californian exile. And now? Resignations. Allegations. governance in crisis. A public chairwoman accusing him of bullying and power plays. A complete brand meltdown feeding the haters This isn’t just another bad news cycle day. It’s an existential crisis – and it’s been coming.
Harry has spent the last few years constructing an outsider brand based on wounded authenticity. He fled the constraints of the life he was conditioned to serve, only to walk straight into the soft-focus embrace of Hollywood and into the arms of a narrative centred on defending his maligned wife. The result? A contradiction. A man demanding privacy while orchestrating maximum visibility. A trauma survivor turned global self-help product. But charity doesn’t run on vibes. It runs on trust, governance, and clarity of purpose. And right now, Harry Brand has managed to damage all three.
Let’s call it what it is: a profound, strategic moment of truth. Everything that’s come before now feels like noise. The real cost of performative philanthropy is plain to see. This isn’t about Harry’s pain anymore. This is about whether his legacy causes can survive him. There’s no shame in failure – if it’s faced. But that’s the problem here. Too many in his circle have mistaken brand management for leadership. Too much effort is spent on controlling the narrative, not enough on confronting the reality.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2034902/prince-harry-pr-crisis-charity
Meghan Markle’s new strategy revealed amid her ‘desperate bid for spotlight’
Geo News
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is “desperate” to reclaim spotlight again as she tries to “stay at top” with her podcast Confessions of a Female Founder.
According to royal expert Mark Borkowski, Meghan Markle wants to stay relevant after stepping down as senior working Royal besides husband Prince Harry.
In a conversation with The Sun, Borkowsk said, “The problem is about staying, not just staying at the top but remaining famous, but also dealing with that fame in a highly cruel and critical world.”
Meghan features women who have started their own companies and startups in her podcast. She interview the founder of Bumble, Whitney Wolfe Herd, in the first episode of her podcast.
The former Suits star will chat with her friends, including, Serena Williams, Gwyneth Paltrow and Mindy Kaling, in the upcoming episodes of the show.
“One could argue that’s a major success because, you know, it keeps her in this sort of public gaze and keeps the global media obsessed about her story,” the expert said.
He added, “Whether it’s the President of the United States or Meghan Markle, it is all about noise now.
“But you know, what are the cut-through messages – and I don’t think we’ve seen that with Meghan at the moment because everything seems to be the next thing that’s thrown against the wall hoping it will stick.”
“Any large personality can generate a huge Instagram following. But how do you stop being boring? What did Trump say? Everybody needs a little crazy.”
Fame-hungry Meghan is copying Trump – she’s desperate to make the world obsessed with her, expert slams
The Sun
The first episode aired on April 8 with an interview of the founder of Bumble, Whitney Wolfe Herd.
Critics widely panned the first listen saying it offered “no substance” despite it reaching top 19 of Spotify.
Dissecting the podcast, royal expert Mark Borkowski said it’s an attempt to hold on to the spotlight.
Slamming the Duchess he said she is copying Trump in a bid to stay relevant.
Mark said about Meghan’s poorly received podcast: “One could argue that’s a major success because, you know, it keeps her in this sort of public gaze and keeps the global media obsessed about her story.
“Whether it’s the President of the United States or Meghan Markle, it is all about noise now.
“But you know, what are the cut through messages – and I don’t think we’ve seen that with Meghan at the moment because everything seems to be the next thing that’s thrown against the wall hoping it will stick.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/royals/34479384/meghan-trump-obsessed/
Meghan Markle faces ‘problem’ as Duchess of Sussex ‘attempts to hold spotlight’
GB News
Royal expert Mark Borkowski suggested the project is an attempt to hold on to the spotlight now following Meghan and Harry’s step back from royal working duties.
Borkowski said: “The problem is about staying, not just staying at the top but remaining famous, but also dealing with that fame in a highly cruel and critical world.”
He told the Sun that the duchess needs to make noise and drew parallels to US President Donald Trump.
Borkowski said: “One could argue that’s a major success because, you know, it keeps her in this sort of public gaze and keeps the global media obsessed about her story.
The expert added: “Whether it’s the President of the United States or Meghan Markle, it is all about noise now.
“But you know, what are the cut-through messages – and I don’t think we’ve seen that with Meghan at the moment because everything seems to be the next thing that’s thrown against the wall hoping it will stick.”
“Any large personality can generate a huge Instagram following.”
“But how do you stop being boring? What did Trump say? Everybody needs a little crazy.”
https://www.gbnews.com/royal/meghan-markle-problem-duchess-of-sussex-news