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In recent weeks, the American rock band went Water parks viral on TikTok. Unfortunately not because of a new song or a spectacular show. No, the focus was entirely on their drummer, Otto Wood. TikTokkers accuse the 33-year-old musician of being a serial killer. Although there is no evidence to support these claims, the rumor spread rapidly and even made headlines.
Otto himself is absent from social media, but it's no exception that his band members mention his name in their videos and posts. In fact, his bandmates are the ones who accuse him of murdering multiple women. And when you type “Otto Wood serial killer” on TikTok, you see video after video of people talking about him and his criminal past. But if you look just a little further, you will see something remarkable. All videos that encourage the claims about Otto come from accounts that are active fans of Waterparks.
This may seem a bit bizarre, but after some research, it doesn't even seem so surprising. What does it turn out? It's a joke! Among fans of the band, Otto has been called anything and everything for years. However, there is no evidence that the claims contain any truth. In addition to the social media claims, you get a range of different articles about serial killer Otto Wood when you look up his name on Google. This is just a completely different Otto! Around 1900, professional criminal Otto Wood was active. In 1930, he was shot dead in a police shooting. Because they share a name, people automatically connect with the drummer.
People often say “any publicity is good publicity,” but is that true? Because yes, Waterparks reaches a huge audience thanks to these claims. But is that audience also their intended target group? In all likelihood, a large part of the people who come into contact with the band, and their music, because of this news, is not the target group that earns them the most streams. In addition, there will be many people who do not bother to do research, and there is the growing problem of fake news and the low media literacy. This can cause people to take over indiscriminately and see the joke as the truth.
The phrase “all publicity is good publicity” suggests that even negative publicity can ultimately contribute to fame and visibility, which can be positive in the long run. However, the truth of this statement depends a lot on the context and the specific situation.
1. Fame: Negative publicity can increase awareness of a person, company, or brand. People who wouldn't have heard of them otherwise can now become curious and want to know more.
2. Topic: Negative publicity can get people talking, increasing visibility and engagement.
3. Image recovery: Some individuals or companies are able to turn negative publicity into an opportunity to restore their image and come back stronger.
1. Reputation damage: Negative publicity can cause permanent damage to the reputation of an individual or company, which may undermine the trust and loyalty of customers, partners, or investors.
2. Financial consequences: Bad publicity can lead to financial losses due to loss of customers, fines, legal costs or declining sales.
3. Difficult recovery: It can be difficult to recover from a serious publicity crisis, especially if negative publicity is prolonged and widespread.
For a band that makes a joke, things are just a little different. For example, rock bands are already known for their controversy, polarizing culture and rugged music. That's why it's not super shocking that a rock band would do this. To bring it back to traditional organizations, two examples:
- Volkswagen emissions scandal: This has caused huge financial and reputational damage, and although the brand still exists, it has had to work hard for years to regain public trust.
- BP's Gulf of Mexico oil spill: This incident costs BP billions of dollars in claims and recovery costs, as well as a lasting negative impact on their reputation.
While some forms of negative publicity can temporarily lead to more attention and even offer an opportunity to ultimately come back stronger, it is certainly not always the case that all publicity is good publicity. The impact of negative publicity depends on the severity of the incident, the response of the individual or company involved, and public perception. In many cases, negative publicity can cause serious and long-term damage that is difficult to repair.
Back to the band. They don't seem to care about negative publicity. They even make references to the situation in the lyrics of their songs. In addition, singer Awsten Knight calls for the joke to keep going.
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