Home > The M.O. > Archives > 2009 > January > 06 > Entry
Rolex saved Owen Wilson’s life? Reeeaaally?
Some people consider public relations flacks (whether in-house or hired-out) to be destined for their own circle of hell. But they’re being a bit harsh. These folks are just trying to make a living while promoting the benefits/virtues and/or mitigating the damage of their clients or products. Sometimes.
Then there are pieces like this, that just make you want to claw your eyes out and never watch TV or the Internets again, much less spend a dollar on anything besides kale grown by your next door neighbor.
Melrose Jewelers, a company that “sells nearly 400 styles of Rolex watches on its Web site along with brands including Cartier, Omega, Breitling and Audemars Piguet,” put out this piece of PR flackery that not only overhypes its product to a ridiculous degree, but does so at the expense of actor/writer Owen Wilson’s life and his reported attempted suicide.
From the Marketwire press release on MSNBC:
Rolex: Melrose Jewelers reports that, after a frightening suicide attempt in 2007, Rolex watches appeared to play an essential role in actor Owen Wilson’s recovery. On August 29, 2007, Time magazine reported: “speculation about his drug use, depression over his May break-up from Hudson and a recent fight with a friend have peppered the coverage of Wilson’s hospitalization.” A People magazine cover story out Friday quotes a friend as saying: “Owen was very despondent. He slit his wrists. He almost did not make it.” It was a dark period in Wilson’s life, and Rolex watches played a key role in helping Owen regain his bearings and his success.Although Owen Wilson has worn a Rolex GMT Master in the popular films “Wedding Crashers” and “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,” he chooses to wear a Rolex Submariner in his everyday life. It is not surprising that he would make such a choice. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner originally was designed for diving and known for their resistance to water. The first Rolex Submariner was introduced to the public in 1954 at the Swiss Watch Fair. Copied by other watchmakers, the Rolex Submariner is recognized as a classic, and one of the most widely recognized luxury products in the world. The Rolex Submariner is part of Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual Professional line. After returning home from the hospital, Owen was captured by a photographer walking on the beach, wearing his Rolex Submariner. Later, he was seen riding his mountain bike in Santa Monica with the Rolex Submariner on his wrist. Obviously, the quality of a Rolex watch helped Owen realize and appreciate the quality of his own life.
A celebrity is expected to show up at a multitude of events, and Owen used the Rolex Mentor and Prot´g´ Arts Initiative Benefit in New York City to make his entrance back on the social scene after his crisis. As Liz Smith wrote in The New York Post on November 11, 2007: “THE APPEALING Owen Wilson is easing his way back into public life after hospitalization and a rumored suicide attempt. He appeared — looking good — at the Rolex Mentor and Prot´g´ Arts Initiative gala in Lincoln Center this week.” In contrast, the National Post of Canada was not so kind when they wrote: “And who was that I saw swooping in, last-minute, into a swirl… Well, that was the bad-day-having-of-late clown Owen Wilson, who just that week was also staring out from People magazine with a cover that read: ‘Picking up the Pieces.’”
Whatever the hawks of the media choose to write, it is clear that Rolex played a major role in Owen Wilson’s recovery. Back in good form, the actor is nothing less than a comic genius in a time when comedy is a necessity. Wearing a Rolex Submariner and attending Rolex Benefits helped Owen Wilson realize his life was valuable and worth living. Once again, the precision and quality of a Rolex proves to be a lifesaver in more ways than one.
Come on, Melrose, nothing about how the amazing strength of the band stopping the blade from cutting through to the wrist? De-spicable!
I wonder if Mike B. at Melrose Watches has received any complaints at his listed phone number or email address. Of course, the unfortunate part is that if Wilson has a promotional contract with Rolex, that may allow people like Melrose Watches to use his name and image any way they see fit. Ouch.
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Comments
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By CharlesV
January 7, 2009 11:36 AM | Link to this
I called to complain, and was respectful, but firm in that it was a despicable, gross way to prey on someone’s misfortune to hock a product. The exchange went something like:
[Sales guy doesn’t transfer me to PR, or can’t, or won’t]
Me: This is really inexcusable, and I’m not going to send any of my business your way, nor will I reccomend you to anyone. [ed: not that I would, but still]
Sales Guy: Really? You took time out of your day to call and complain to me?
Me: Yeah, if you guys are going to take time out of your day to hock your wares in such a dispicable way, you should know public reception is awful of it.
Sales Guy: Well why don’t you fing meet me and i can kick your f*ing…
Me: OK, Guy.
click
He called me back from caller ID a few minutes later to apologize, says he doesn’t write the blogs, and he’s been yelled at by a lot of people today. I told him I understood, but if there was someone I could voice my opinion to, I’d be glad to.
These guys have a killer PR department, sounds like.