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| L-R, Ellen DeGeneres; Prince Harry and Meghan Markle; Lachlan, Rupert and James Murdoch |
The concept of a celebrity career assassination isn't new, and when they happen, it shocks the masses. However, unlike the general definition of an assassination - that they happen in a flash - those that include the livelihoods of household names are tortuous. Thanks to social media and the 24/7 news cycle, you'll never hear the end of the downfall of the rich and famous, and there is little that the individual(s) involved can do to stop it.
Over the past few weeks, we've seen three highly influential figure that have seen big exposures with their names written all over it - but are they to blame, or is this the classic case of 'death by association'? The three I'll profile here in this instance are Rupert Murdoch, Meghan Markle and Ellen DeGeneres.
In the case of Rupert, no matter how many times people have tried to assassinate his career, the Aussie remains one of the most powerful media moguls in the business. Nobody will ever overtake the level of influence he has amassed. A recent documentary series, which rather wonderfully summarised his career and legacy, laying bare his capability of changing the course of history by making bold editorial decisions using the media platforms he owns.
Yet, Murdoch's true legacy is in doubt, since the BBC documentary was aired. It argued and emphasised that one of his three children (Elisabeth, Lachlan or James) would take over their father once he completely steps to one side from News Corporation. By the end of these three episodes, you were left with the impressions that it'd be either of his two sons, but James has since turned his back on the business.
While it is risky business to almost wholly rely on family to build on
an empire you dedicated more than sixty years in developing, by his
children turning away from his love away from home, Rupert Murdoch's
career will be for nothing. Why would you include your children from the
very start otherwise? He didn't just do it as part of a father/child
bonding exercise. James and Elisabeth ruling themselves out must have
hurt him badly. That said, Murdoch has a small window of opportunity to
ensure his company is taken over by either a child or a trusted
associate. The future is only in his hands until it isn't and if News
Corporation goes under the moment he is away from it, that would be an
assassination like no other. I question whether the media world is ready
for this sudden change.
It hasn't been long since I last wrote about Meghan Markle. In January 2020, she and her husband Prince Harry were to embark on life away from the Royal Family. Seven months on and the bitterness from some corners of society about their departure is still stark. I remain to argue that they made the right call to lead a life of their own, as Meghan realised she couldn't use her royal status to influence people's thinking without the Family being happy about it and I had the impression Harry needed time away from the Royal limelight. Both now are LA hot property rather than Windsor's.
With what I've mentioned in mind, their profiles continue to court controversy - this time through an authorised biography detailing the ins and outs of their exit. It included accounts of family rifts that supposedly sealed Meghan and Harry's fate.
I can see why this book went out as soon as it had. The couple felt they had to say something before other books revealed them to be characters they are not. It can take a book like one recently published by Lady Colin Campbell - who has never met Meghan and Harry as an item, or has little intention of doing so - to try and kill off their image.
What Meghan and Harry need to start realising now is that their career assassination stops with them. Certain Hollywood celebrity couples, such as George and Amal Clooney, are masters at living their life quietly and going to the press under their terms. This will be a small learning process for the former Royal couple, so long as the press ease their appetite in wanting to know their every move. They aren't 'Royal' anymore, and are therefore no longer paid for by taxpayers. It is no longer in the public interest to know what they're doing. It takes two to tango.
Ellen DeGeneres is new to the career assassination game - or at least has returned to it after a long time away. In the 1990s, she came out as a lesbian and that revelation could have meant a quick end to her broadcasting career. Instead, pleasingly, it blossomed. Her talkshow is brilliant and the audience participation reflect parts of America I quite like.
But her show's future is currently in doubt. While on screen, we see smiling faces from guests, hosts and crew, the situation couldn't appear more different off screen. Executives of the show are being accused of bullying, going completely against Ellen's "Be Kind" mantra. While the presenter is yet to be accused personally, her reputation is on the line thanks to others.
To be honest, the exposes don't surprise me. And the side-narrative where we see floods of celebrities defend Ellen is predictable too. If any on air career that shouldn't die is Ellen's. Her problem is, however, that these claims are not going away and may get worse. She is perfectly aware that her show will be axed should revelations escalate to a situation where her show's demise is the only option. We've seen it happen in the UK with the Jeremy Kyle Show, when a guest ended his own life after failing a lie detector test on the programme. Yes, the two shows are very different but Kyle - like Ellen - is a popular figure, even if his on air persona told us otherwise. Whether DeGeneres is part of the guilty party or not, her choice is whether to speak out or keep silent, which is deafening by the minute. It's tough, but either way, the truth matters.
Usually, our image is in our hands, but when your influence is so great, you have to rely on others to carry your name forward. The pressure to keeping that name to its high acclaim can be too much to handle. Murdoch, Markle and DeGeneres have opportunities to take control of their own destiny. There is plenty of inspiration to go by, but failing to change the narrative of their current challenging situation will turn a career assassination to tragedy.
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