I’ve heard it stated that fame is essentially the most addictive of all medicine. I’ve been skeptical about this, however Elizabeth Holmes’ ongoing PR saga makes me surprise whether it is, actually, true.
Holmes has appeared in People magazine to inform us that jail is “hell and torture,” in the identical method that one may say “butt and ass” or “dick and cock.” The purpose of hell, for these of you who usually are not up on Christian theology, is torture. That’s what it’s for.
The Individuals profile reuses lots of the New York Instances’ glamour photographs, which is smart: it’s laborious to get pictures of inmates. However even when Holmes is inside, her publicist is working extra time. As within the The Instances’ profile, the emphasis is on Holmes as a mom, and the way laborious it’s for her to be away from her kids. “I’m not the identical individual I used to be again then,” Holmes tells Individuals, vaguely saying that “there are issues I might have achieved otherwise.” She nonetheless insists Theranos was a failure, not a fraud. Girlie, this one’s over. We all heard you lie.
You understand, I may need managed her picture otherwise. For starters, I doubtless would have waited just a few extra years earlier than making an attempt to hunt redemption. That offers individuals time to overlook issues just like the grueling hours she expected from staff, the misdiagnoses of (variously) HIV and miscarriage, and — clearly — all the lies. It additionally provides Holmes extra do-gooder accomplishments to tout, and possibly some extra secondary sources for interviews to say what a pleasant woman she is. I’d even attempt to discuss her into admitting the factor everyone knows, that she engaged in fraud, so she will lastly have some form of credibility.
Nevertheless it appears Holmes can’t abdomen ready, or telling the reality about Theranos. So she’s telling Individuals tales about saving her breast milk in order that she will really feel a connection to her youngster. There’s additionally this assertion, which I discover myself inquisitive about: “Later, Holmes spoke to the jail’s warden about permitting ladies to breastfeed privately and authorities ultimately constructed a number of lactation rooms within the housing items in 2023.” Am I to consider that Holmes has a lot sway in a jail that she will get services constructed? Or had been these services already deliberate? It’s not clear from Individuals’s accounting.
I’m additionally not clear if the publicist is intentionally deciding on incurious reporters, those who’re best to play, or if doing any precise work looks like it’s past the remit of Individuals, however in some sense, it doesn’t matter. She will name herself Liz if she likes. She’ll at all times be Elizabeth Holmes to me.
