Problematic PR tactics

Toronto's favourite nobody is up to trouble again. It seems gossip monger Zack Taylor recently came up against an age old journalistic conundrum: under pressure, does a journo who has been sworn to secrecy reveal anonymous sources?

A few days ago Taylor got into it with Disney darling Demi Lovato over her supposed romance with her fellow D-Tween, Joe Jonas. When Lovato got wind that Taylor had posted a confirmation of her relationship with Jonas on his Toronto-based gossip blog, the Tweets started to fly.

The snap-back denial began with a Tweet Lovato posted at 3:00 a.m. on November 5, reading: There's been a lot of rumors lately that I'm dating one of my best friends Joe. I can promise my entire career that I am not.

The message was quickly followed up with another firm denial: We've NEVER dated. He's incredible, but we don't have feelings for eachother in that way. I love you guys, and I wouldn't lie about that.

And finally a shot at Taylor: It's ufortunate that some people out there are so desperate for attention that they have to make up gossip to keep their site alive.*

That’s the pressure, or so Taylor sees it. In the face of the flack he was receiving from Lovato through her public tweets, he returned to his source, who had insisted anonymity.

Word from the still unnamed source came in the form of a text message reading, “you gotta be patient cuz no rep is gonna confirm it I can assure you!” and another: “It’ll die down in a couple of days, then the truth will come and ppl will say “OMG he was telling the truth!” Then they’ll respect u even more.”

Taylor was doubtful, and faced with losing his Hollywood credibility (read: points with PR practitioners and loudmouth “insiders”) he caved.

The source? None other than Lovato’s mother, Dianna Delagarza, Taylor says.

But before the plot could take a further Living Lohan twist, Taylor jumped on the defensive. In an interview posted earlier today, the blogger told the known Taylor-haters over at Torontoist, "My emotions went from feeling pissed-off, to feeling betrayed, lied-to, hurt, confused, to finally, a clear conscience."

Can Taylor keep that conscience? Probably, as much as any gossip columnist or blogger can. Shady blind-item ethics are currently kosher amongst the celeb-dishing set, so when it comes to anonymous sources writers like Taylor are forced to either sit on the “truth” in silence, or spill the beans.

But let’s face it: if Mr. Taylor’s moral dilemma is between the shady practice of using un-named sources and the shady practice of concealing a mom-anger’s (equally shady) PR tactics, well, this is embarrassing for all involved.

Conclusion: You always lacked conscience, Mr. Taylor, that’s exactly what keeps your site’s content flowing.

Conundrum solved.

*Spelling mistakes courtesy of Ms. Lovato

Let's play spot the superstar.

Starring in a teen soap is simultaneously a launching pad and a dead end. Shannon Doherty got her own WB drama, Jared Leto gave us Requiem for a Dream, and Katie Holmes had a demon baby with America's most famous Scientologist. But Blossom hasn't been heard from, Brian Austin Green is doing uncredited extra work, and Sarah Michelle Gellar hasn't been relevant since celebs had three names. 

Then there is the next generation. While Famous and Canadian rarely end up in the same sentence, Degrassi: the next generation is an international hit on the N. While few fans bat an eye at cast members on Toronto's streets, the show's American success has catapulted a couple of its stars into post-secondary fame. 

Shanae Grimes skipped town, transferred to  West Beverly, and can now be seen carrying  cartons of cigarettes out of convenience stores on gossip blogs next to headlines like  "Shanae Grimes is an anorexic bitch!" Isn't Hollywood fun? Adamo Ruggiero moved from CTV to YTV, and now hosts a pint-sized American-Idol type show called the Next Star. He also  came out of the closet on E-Talk Daily, was a  Fab coverboy and has become a viable gay icon  online. 

But no celeb has made it until they're on  Page Six. And the first of the gang to make that tabloid splash is one Aubrey Drake. Now simply  "Drake", Aubrey is a budding musician who hangs with the likes of Kanye and is poised to become American's favourite Black-Jewish rapper. But lately it's his kissing lips, not his spitting lips, that are getting press. Drake has been spotted in an apparent heavy make-out session with a post-Chris Brown Rhianna. Drake has publicly played the "just friends" card, but let's face it: it's more fun to believe what's on Page Six than what's on a press release. 

Until the next episode, 

R

*nb: Yes, Shanae Grimes was probably on Page Six first, but not in a Rhianna item, and that's what truly matters

Puck Fuck?

The NHL just got a little bit sleazier.

At my high school, the hockey players got all the girls. Despite their missing teeth, scarred faces and tendency to shower with other men, they had their pick of the ladies. Girls with bleach blond hair and the sluttiest snowboots money can buy flocked to games in hopes that they would be the girl chosen to spend the night drinking Coors Light with whoever was at center ice.

Most of the guys who played hockey for my high school team have long since gotten chubby, grown bad goatees and found jobs at gas stations. But for a few lucky hockey stars, the good times continue to the major leagues, where they ditch their old puck bunnies and date b-list celebrities.

Sean Avery is the Dallas Stars resident bad boy. Ed Belfour used to be the team's
troublemaker, who coincidently did go to my high school, before I ever attended. During his days as a Star, Belfour caused enough chaos to inspire the phrase "Goin' Belfour"; as in: JR has had about 8 drinks so far...he's goin' Ed Belfour.

Recently, Avery has easily outdone Belfour's legacy. Before facing off against the Calgary Flames, and his latest arch nemesis, Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf, Avery decided to have a quick chat with the press.

Avery called out Phaneu, who is dating his ex-girlfriend and fellow Canadian, Elisha Cuthbert. Before dating Phaneu, the former Girl Next Door was linked to Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens. Avery decided he had had enough.

Facing the cameras, Avery spewed, "I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds.

This is exactly the type of excitement the NHL needs if it wants to attract viewers south of the border, where most of its teams play. But in true Canadian tradition Don Cherry got his plaid pants in a twist and the league slapped Avery with an indefinite suspension for the comments.

Which serves as a reminder: gentlemen, this isn't high school anymore.