The Rest Is...Sports & The Media - Henry, The Haka, & The Halo TikTok Disaster
Sports & The Media – Henry, The Haka, & The Halo TikTok DisasterThis week on The Rest Is PR, Jacki and Lyle dive into a weekend of sporting drama that’s dominated headlines — not for results on the pitch, but for the communications strategies surrounding them. From England’s historic victory over the All Blacks and Henry Pollock’s viral Haka response, to Joe Marler’s press conference controversy and Sky’s short-lived ‘Halo’ TikTok channel, there’s plenty to unpack when sport and media collide.Jacki opens the episode by reflecting on how athletes handle post-match interviews, arguing that adrenaline and frustration can’t excuse poor conduct. She stresses the importance of staying composed, knowing your message, and understanding that one clipped comment can define a narrative, especially in today’s content-driven landscape.Enter England rugby’s breakout star, Henry Pollock. His cheeky smirk during New Zealand’s iconic Haka was heavily scrutinised, but Pollock quickly flipped the script with a witty social post that reclaimed control of the story. Jacki and Lyle explore why his response worked so well.The conversation moves to Joe Marler, whose tense press conference exchange continues to generate discussion online. Jacki and Lyle note that Marler should be recognised for his humour and mental health advocacy, not viral moments where irritation got the better of him. The key takeaway being that today’s athletes must understand the permanence and significance of every filmed interaction.And then - Sky’s Halo TikTok fiasco. Launched as a new sports channel for women and pulled within just three days, the project was slammed for patronising its audience and 'dumbing down' sport for girls. Lyle reads Sky’s full statement, which Jacki praises for its clarity and accountability, but both agree the damage was done long before the apology landed.From winning over audiences to tone-deaf releases, this episode is a masterclass in how sport and PR are now more connected than ever, and why strategy off the pitch matters just as much as performance on it.Join the conversation in the comments — do today's athletes get fair scrutiny, or is the media too quick to pounce?For more from The Rest Is PR, visit our website and follow for new episodes every week.0:00 Intro2:37 Sportspeople & The Media5:25 What Has Changed When It Comes To Interviews With Sportspeople?8:32 Sportspeople Should Exercise Control In Responses?10:10 The F1 Example11:36 The Difference Between Sports & Other Media16:28 Henry Pollock & The Haka24:07 Joe Marler25:25 Sky Sports Halo33:20 Jacki’s Advice For Sky After Halo Mistake37:30 Sky’s Statement------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------✅ Subscribe: @TheRestIsPR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------🎙️ Listen: https://shows.acast.com/the-rest-is-pr------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📱 Follow Us: Instagram: / @therestispr TikTok: / @therestisprLinkedIn: / www.linkedin.com/company/the-rest-is-pr/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#TheRestIsPR #SportsPR #HenryPollock #AllBlacks #Haka #JoeMarler #SkySports #HaloTikTok #MediaStrategy #Rugby #SportingReputation #PRPodcast #PublicRelations #ReputationManagement #PRInsights #SportsMedia #CrisisComms #TrendingNow #TheRestIsPRPodcast #ContentIsForever Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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