Should PhRMA Blow Up Montel Williams?
13 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // December 3rd, 2007 // 8:41 am
How should PhRMA handle Montel Williams? The talk-show host, who was never known for asking probing questions, clearly doesn’t know how to answer simple questions. During a taping of a press event this past Friday for the Partnership for Prescription Access program (this is a video clip), he abruptly ended the session when an intern for the Savannah Morning News asked whether he thought that drugmakers would be discouraged from research and development if profits were restricted.
“I’m trying to figure out exactly why you are here and what the interview is about,” he replied to Courtney Scott, the intern. Williams then asked if she suffered from any illness, to which she answered no. “I’m here as a patient advocate talking about the fact that medications available today are saving people’s lives, that’s what’s saving mine and after that, this interview is done,” Montel reportedly said before storming out, adding that he suffers from multiple sclerosis. He snapped his fingers, said thanks and walked away, according to the newspaper.
But later, he confronted Courtney and a crew from her newspaper at his hotel, while they were covering another story. “As we were preparing to film, Montel walked up with his bodyguard and got in Courtney Scott’s face pointing his finger telling her, ‘Don’t look at me like that. Do you know who I am? I’m a big star, and I can look you up, find where you live and blow you up,’ ” Joe Cosey, a web content producer for the paper, says. “At this time he was pointing randomly at all of us.”
Montel later apologized for his outburst in a statement, which he acknowledged was wrong and an overreaction. Ken Johnson, senior vice president for at PhRMA, says the question would have been better directed to him because he represents the drug industry, and Williams is paid to raise awareness of the drug program. But Sue Catron, the Morning news executive editor disagrees: “That’s an absolutely fair question to someone who represents the pharmaceutical industry.” What do you think? Is this what pharma needs right now?
Should Garino have disclosed the payments to the patient?
- Yes (91%, 102 Votes)
- No (10%, 11 Votes)
Total Voters: 112
Loading ...For those who want to know what a marketing guru says about all this, visit Pharma Marketing blog, where John Mack not only sounds off, but is running his own poll (which, he diplomatically points out, was initiated before our own).
John Mack
Re: Montel. What do you think, Ed? I was the FIRST blogger to call upon PhRMA to fire Montel. I’m sure you’ve seen my post at http://pharmamkting.blogspot.com/2007/12/montel-williams-zero-tolerance-for.html
Health Blog : Montel Williams' Blowup is Pharma's PR Blunder
[...] tip: Pharmalot Permalink | Trackback URL: [...]
Lisa Emrich
Excerpt from my own blog earlier today:
Montel Williams has multiple sclerosis, as do I, and has been the visible image of PPArx since . Now I’ve got my own opinions as to the quality of assistance which Billy Tauzin and his Orange Bus purport to provide needy individuals. [see PhRMA and PPArx: How much are they really helping patients in need?]
Previously, I’ve given Williams the benefit of the doubt regarding the use of his image to promote a glossed-over PR concoction. I have no doubt wondered as to the level of compensation the Big Pharma lobby may be providing him, but I’ve let it go.
Is Montel Williams Disturbed by Big Pharma?
Montel Williams’ blow-up: a symptom of multiple sclerosis or bad judgment? [Terra Sigillata] | NewAge.org
[...] relative to the pharma blogosphere (John Mack’s Pharma Marketing Blog, Ed Silverman’s Pharmalot, and the WSJ Health Blog), but Montel Williams has created a PR disaster for Partnership for [...]
Prescription Access Litigation (PAL) Project » Blog Archive » Montel Williams “blows up” at High School student asking about drug prices
[...] Hat tip: Pharmalot [...]
The Pulse » Blog Archive » Montel gives Pharma PR headache - PRWeek Blogs
[...] host and a spokesman for the Partnership for Prescription Access program, gave PhRMA a bit of a headache last Friday at an event in Savannah, Georgia. Asked by a high school student whether pharmaceutical [...]
Joan Petitto
As a mother of an adult daughter with MS, I’m sure Montel is feeling frustrated with the drug companies and the price of the medications. Also I know the meds that they take do make them hyper, and it was just probably a bad moment for him. Picture yourself with this disease, knowing that you will be crippled and in a wheelchair eventually. He is doing only good things for this disease. People kill and not such a big fuss is made, move on.
Lisa Emrich
Joan, I can sympathize with you and your daughter as I too have MS and RA (and my mother has Lupus and Scleroderma.) I’m not so sure how frustrated Montel might feel regarding the drug companies and the price of medications, as he personally is not likely to feel the financial stress.
As far as ‘knowing that you will be crippled and in a wheelchair eventually,’ that may be a fear but it doesn’t excuse bad behavior. As my neurologist often says, “not everything you experience can be attributed to MS. You are entitled to experience the more common illnesses and variety of emotions as is everybody else without MS.”
Bad behavior is bad behavior. And for a very public representative, it is less excusable.
Ms. O.
I was present at Montel’s presentation in Savannah on Nov. 30th. He stated that he had been feeling much better due to a change in his health care. He didn’t say if it was a prescription, therapy, homeopathic remedy, or what….but who wants to bet it’s Rx? He stated he was going to reveal the secret on his show “next week.” Maybe since he had a temper tantrum, he will retract the “feeling better” comments.
Anna
This kind of behavior is unacceptable by any public figure.
elaina
Unacceptable. He plays the advocate of people’s rights and doesn’t offer them in real life. Wake up call for Montel. Those that think themselves mighty will fall from grace by their own deeds. Apology should be public.
Mark S.
I thought, just like any other corporation, that capital from stocks was the main source for product R&D. When did relying on astronomically disproportionate profits over manufacturing costs and normal R&D process, become ethically acceptable in the face of so many millions having to do without these new drugs because of costs?
katherine
Is he the first celebrity to make a mistake? No. Will he be the last? No. Do we crucify him for his words? Since, for many people, it’s so entertaining to see those who are “privileged” make a mistake and get drug through the mud, apparently so. It happens time and time again. Did you hear about Brittney’s newest breakdown? It’s ALL over the news. Can we even call it ‘news’ anymore?