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Explaining "There is no such thing as bad publicity"

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 29/12/2024, 02:10
English.me team member

What does it mean?

There is no such thing as bad publicity

The phrase "There is no such thing as bad publicity" means that any attention or publicity, even if it's negative, can be beneficial because it increases public awareness about a person, product, or event. The underlying idea is that being talked about keeps one in the public eye, which can be advantageous in terms of recognition and potential opportunities.

Tone

Cynical and pragmatic

Origin

The origin of the phrase is often attributed to Phineas T. Barnum, a 19th-century American showman known for his publicity stunts, though there's no concrete evidence he actually said it. It is also linked to Oscar Wilde, who wrote, "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." The phrase encapsulates a long-standing notion in marketing and public relations.

Examples of usage

  • After the controversial interview, the politician gained even more attention—there's no such thing as bad publicity.
  • The company's mishap went viral, but sales increased anyway; it seems there's no such thing as bad publicity.
  • Despite the negative reviews, the movie's box office numbers soared, proving there's no such thing as bad publicity.

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