Howard Bragman
Howard Bragman (born February 24, 1956)[1] is an American crisis manager, public relations practitioner, writer and lecturer. He is often seen as a "PR Guru."[2][3]
Howard Bragman | |
---|---|
Born | Flint, Michigan, U.S. | February 24, 1956
Alma mater | University of Michigan |
Occupation | Crisis manager, publicist |
Relatives | Lizzy Caplan (niece) |
Website | labrea |
Bragman currently serves as Chairman of LaBrea Media, a crisis management company he founded in 2018.[4]
Early life and education
Bragman was born to a Jewish family and raised in Flint, Michigan,[5] the son of Myrna (Wolin) and Leonard Bragman.[6] He graduated with a B.A in journalism and psychology from the University of Michigan in 1978.[5] Later, Bragman acknowledged that support of the LGBTQ+ Spectrum Center and accepting atmosphere of the university helped him to come out.[5]
Career
Upon graduation, Bragman proceeded career in public relations and crisis management and after serving as a vice president in the Chicago and Los Angeles offices of Burson-Marsteller Public Relations, Bragman founded Bragman Nyman Cafarelli (BNC) in 1989. In 2001, BNC was purchased by Interpublic Group, a holding company for marketing firms.[7] In 2005, Bragman established Fifteen Minutes, a strategic media and public relations agency. Bragman founded LaBrea.Media in 2018 as a consultant, pundit and content creator.[8] Bragman was an Adjunct Professor in Public Relations at the University of Southern California's Annenberg Center for Communication from 1998 to 2003.[9] He is the author of the best-selling book, "Where's My Fifteen Minutes?" (2008), through Penguin Portfolio.[10]
In 2016, Bragman was approached by film producer Glen Zipper, who was working with Paul Haggis on Lead and Copper, a documentary about the Flint water crisis. Being a Flint native, Bragman joined Paul Haggis' crew to assist with public relations and historical insight into industrial era of the city.[11][12]
Bragman has provided litigation support as a crisis counselor for cases and individuals including Joseph Steffan;[13] the Lewinsky family;[14] and Sharon Smith in Smith v. Knoller. He is also involved with both the accusers and the accused in the #MeToo movement.[15]
Bragman has been vice chairman of the management firm Reputation.com.[16]
As a publicist and LGBTQ activist, Howard Bragman has represented Sharon Osbourne,[17] Anthony Scaramucci,[18][19] Steven Slater, Stevie Wonder,[20] Chaz Bono,[21][22] John Amaechi, Don Lemon, Monica Lewinsky, Joe Manganiello, Anna Kendrick, Terrence Howard and Ricki Lake, among others.[23][24]
As a "coming out" advisor, Bragman consulted a number of celebrities, including American actress and producer Meredith Baxter, basketball player Sheryl Swoopes, country music artist Chely Wright, and NFL player Michael Sam.[23]
Community work and charity endeavors
Bragman has been active in the AIDS/HIV community, on lesbian and gay civil rights, Jewish causes and First Amendment protections. He has received awards and honors from AIDS Project Los Angeles, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and Congregation Kol Ami.[25] Bragman was the founder of the Jewish Image Awards, honoring positive portrayals of Jews in television and film.[26]
According to the online magazine Mlive, "Bragman helped organize the February 2016 "Hollywood for Flint" benefit in California that raised more than $35,000 for the Flint Child Health and Development Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint."[11]
In September 2021, Bragman made a $1 million endowment to found the Howard Bragman Coming Out Fund on the facilities of the University of Michigan.[27][28] The Fund's management will be run by the Spectrum Center, an LGBTQIA+ support center, which was formed in 1970 on the college campus.[5][29]
Public appearances
Bragman has been a news consultant for ABC News since 2010.[13] He has also made multiple appearances on local and network news programs including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, Today Show, and Larry King Live, as well as in national and local magazines and newspapers.
Bragman made an appearance on an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 2 as Camille Grammer's Publicist,[30] and was a guest judge on Season 1 of RuPaul's Drag Race.[31]
References
- Haire, Julie (January 21, 2009). "So What Do You Do, Howard Bragman, Fifteen Minutes Public Relations CEO?". Mediabistro. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
- Weisman, Aly (November 25, 2014). "PR Guru's Advice To Bill Cosby: 'Shut Up And Disappear'". Business Insider. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- McDonald, Patrick Range (August 16, 2010). "Hollywood PR Guru Howard Bragman Signs JetBlue's Steven Slater". LA Weekly. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- Aliotta, Ann Marie (2021-09-10). "Howard Bragman creates million-dollar 'coming out' fund". The University of Michigan.
- Marie Aliotta, Ann (2021-09-10). "Howard Bragman creates million-dollar 'coming out' fund". University of Michigan.
- "Leonard Bragman". Sun-Sentinel.
- Hod, Itay (March 12, 2014). "How Howard Bragman Orchestrated Michael Sam's Coming Out". Daily Beast. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- Lieber, Chavie (March 6, 2018). "Oprah Is the Original Celebrity Influencer". Racked. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- Pringle, Paul; Ryan, Harriet; Hamilton, Matt; Elmahrek, Adam (August 31, 2017). "Investigators seek photos and videos of former USC medical school dean with drugs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- Torrance, Kelly Jane (October 4, 2009). "Letterman's TV admission called adept PR". The Washington Times. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- Oscar-winning director working on Flint water crisis documentary, report says The Flint Journal via MLive.com, February 5, 2017
- "Paul Haggis Documentary to Explore Flint Water Crisis". ColorLines. 9 December 2016.
- "PR's 'Gay Guru' Helps Celebrities Come Out". NPR. April 28, 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- Canfield, Dan (August 19, 2017). "Anthony Scaramucci Has Reportedly Hired the Hollywood Publicist Who Represented Monica Lewinsky". Vulture. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- Cullins, Ashley; Sun, Rebecca (January 12, 2018). "The New #MeToo Economy: Hollywood Lawyers, Crisis PR Pros Seeing "Unprecedented" Uptick in Business". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- Kilday, Gregg (October 5, 2011). "Howard Bragman Joining Reputation.com as Vice Chairman". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- Kickpatrick, Emily (2021-03-17). "Sharon Osbourne Denies New Allegations of Racism and Bullying". Vanity Fair.
- "How Anthony Scaramucci wound up at the Golden Globes". The Washington Post.
- "Scaramucci hires 'Fifteen Minutes,' Hollywood PR firm". Politico.
- "Spokesman to stars Howard Bragman lists in Hollywood Hills". Los Angeles Times. 10 October 2012.
- "Chaz Bono calls off his engagement". Today.
- "When Gay News (Or Crisis) Hits Hollywood, Gay Public Relations Guru Shines". NPR.org. NPR.
- Ramos, Dino-Ray (2017-08-19). "Anthony Scaramucci Signs With Hollywood PR Firm — Report". Deadline.
- "Before Kevin McClatchy came out as gay, he called 'the midwife' for help".
- "Congregation Kol Ami".
- Hartog, Kelly (November 23, 2006). "Schmoozing with celebrities on Israel's behalf". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- "U-M Spectrum Center's Largest Gift Ever Helps Celebrate its 50th Anniversary". The Detroit Jewish News.
- "Flint Native Who Found Acceptance in Ann Arbor Just Created a $1 Million 'Coming Out Fund' for U of M Students". Pride Source. 15 September 2021.
- "The History of Spectrum Center". The University of Michigan.
- Villarreal, Yvonne (March 26, 2012). "Camille Grammer won't return to 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'". Los Angeles Times.
- Avery, Dan (October 14, 2013). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 1 Ru-Cap: "Queens of All Media"". NewNowNext. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
External links
- LaBrea.Media
- LA Weekly: The Secret Lives of Queer Leading Men
- “Amaechi Becomes First NBA Player To Come Out" ESPN.com, by Chris Sheridan. February 9, 2007.
- “Paula's Tale of the Tape” E!Online by Sarah Hall. June 1, 2007.