Ken Bone:  His Fifteen Minutes Of Fame Is Over

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5WPR CEO Ronn Torossian takes a look at the rise and fall of Ken Bone.

These days, the Internet can give you your 15 minutes of fame only to set you up to fall further and faster than you ever thought possible. It’s the world we live in, and it’s the world sweater-loving undecided voter Ken Bone has been living in the past week.

Bone quickly became a national darling after asking a question at the most recent presidential debate. Sporting a snazzy red sweater and the ultimate “everyman” demeanor, Bone delivered an actual policy question in a presidential race that has been consumed by the cult of personality. Everyone loved him for it, and so the myth of Ken Bone was born. He was a meme less than 24 hours later …

Some said it was dangerous to fall in love with a guy so soon. Others begged the internet to let him go quietly and allow everyone to have the moment they loved in the debate. But, of course, that’s not the way of things in the digital age. Next thing you know, Bone was online hawking t-shirts with his face on them. Then came the other shoe…

Bone tweeted out that he was no longer an “undecided” voter last Thursday. He had decided on … UberSelect from Uber. The country suddenly felt like Ralphie in A Christmas Story, realizing that his long awaited decoder ring only revealed a “crummy commercial.” Bone was an untarnished folk hero no more. He was a “celebrity” endorser … and folks wondered what, exactly, he was a celebrity for.

Bone stopped short of saying whether or not Uber paid him for the endorsement, but he did admit they’re “not hurling money” at him. And, according to the company, Bone’s being paid in free rides rather than cash.

Yet, what’s certain is Ken Bone’s celebrity ride is over – his time is done and his 15 minutes passed.

About Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is the Founder and CEO of 5W Public Relations. He is an experienced leader in the public relations industry with over 20 years of experience. Ronn Torossian has been named as Public Relations executive of the year by the American Business Awards, and has run countless award-winning Public Relations programs.

ronn torossian 5wpr ceo

Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is the Founder and Chairman of 5WPR, one of the largest independently-owned PR firms in the United States. With over 25 years of experience crafting and executing powerful narratives, Torossian is one of America’s most prolific and well-respected Public Relations professionals. Since founding 5WPR in 2003, he has led the company’s growth, overseeing more than 275 professionals. With clients spanning corporate, technology, consumer and crisis, in addition to digital marketing and public affairs capabilities, 5WPR is regularly recognized as an industry leader and has been named “PR Agency of the Year” by the American Business Awards on multiple occasions. Throughout his career, Torossian has worked with some of the world’s most visible companies, brands and organizations. His strategic, resourceful approach has been recognized with numerous awards including being named the Stevie American Business Awards 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year, the American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year, twice over, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist, Metropolitan Magazine’s Most Influential New Yorker, a 2020 Top Crisis Communications Professional by Business Insider, and a recipient of Crain’s New York 2021 Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Torossian is known as one of the country’s foremost experts on crisis communications, and is called on to counsel blue chip companies, top business executives and entrepreneurs both in the United States and worldwide. Torossian has lectured on crisis PR at Harvard Business School, appears regularly on CNN & CNBC, is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer, and has authored two editions of his book, “For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations,” which is an industry best-seller. A NYC native, Torossian is a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO), and active in numerous charities.

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