The ‘Wagatha Christie’ trial saw the profiles of Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney soar, both capable of capitalizing in the future, albeit in very different ways and for very different reasons, reputation experts have said .
Vardy’s spectacular goal in suing Rooney may have seen him openly mocked, his reputation ruined and facing a potential £3m legal bill, but he will never be in demand again and could recover – against the odds, they said.
Reality shows will be knocking on their door, said Jonathan Hartley, a media consultant who specializes in crisis management. “I’m a celebrity… Get me out of here! they’d absolutely bite their hands off for her, just because her profile has never been this high. There’s going to be a lot of offers, more than she’s ever had. The controversy it just makes it more interesting,” he said.
For her part, Rooney, who is making a documentary about the case, can expect offers from many brands eager to associate themselves with the “maligned girl next door” persona she has acquired.
“We live from the pantomime. Reality television and social media provide us with pantomime characters on a daily basis. So here we have the “wicked witch” and the “good fairy”. I think pantomime king Michael Harrison will be on the phone today,” said PR expert Mark Borkowski.
Hartley said the verdict may seem like a disaster for a “devastated” Vardy, but “almost always people can come back from having their reputations ruined very badly”.
He added: “Coleen had won before the verdict in terms of PR. Everyone seemed to be on her side. The fact that most people thought Rebekah Vardy was in the dock showed how badly she had gone. The bits that came out at trial were more damaging to Rebekah than to Coleen.
“But the British public is brilliant at forgiving. She [Vardy] it must create a long-term strategy. He has to make a mea culpa. It has to show some understanding of where it went wrong and why people were upset.”
A nice TV interview might be a start. “Piers Morgan would want her,” but added whether the gladiatorial arena was the best vehicle for Vardy at this stage was debatable. Solidarity work was another option. But she shouldn’t rush into anything.
Rooney, on the other hand, could take advantage of the many offers that will come his way. “If I were Coleen, I would absolutely use the profile and goodwill she has and take advantage of all the offers,” Hartley said.
“In a weird way for Coleen, PR-wise, she’s better off walking away from this story. Not because she’s done anything wrong. But because she has a high moral standard and doesn’t want to be seen exploiting- ho and punching Rebekah while she’s down.
However, Wag-type marks are likely to stay away from Vardy for some time. “The kind of deals with the kind of retailers that might go to a Wag will evaporate,” Borkowski said.
“It’s huge for Coleen, and she’s got the people around her to market it. She’s still the vilified girl next door. She looked really strong, walking into court with that big boot on, [Wayne] behind her holding her handbag.
“Now she’s back playing. I think people will look at her and think: ‘She’s someone we want’. And she’ll be in high demand, but for totally different reasons to Vardy.
“It’s a disaster for Vardy,” he added. “She could go with the shenanigans. I always remember Christine and Neil Hamilton showing up at every talk with a brown paper bag, and they seemed to get off because they played the comedy of the situation,” he said of the fallout former MP after the ‘cash for questions’ scandal. .
“She [Vardy] she can disappear without a trace, or do private charitable things quietly in the background, a sort of John Profumo of the world of footballers’ wives. She will be sued, though. You name it: tabloid TV, reality TV. But from the way she launched this action, I don’t think it’s a comfortable place for her.”