Great Lines Build Reputations. Lawsuits Usually Don’t.
From Brian Wilson to Blake Lively, I’m breaking down why one well-placed sentence can save your reputation, and why suing rarely does.
“I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
—Lou Gehrig, 1939
“Veni, Vidi, Vici.”
—Julius Caesar
“Give me liberty, or give me death!”
—Patrick Henry, 1775
Great lines don’t just land, they stay. They cut through. They shift public perception. That’s why, this morning I had to honor one of the all-time masters of lyricism: Brian Wilson.
You may not be a fan of The Beach Boys fan (I’m not. I'm more of a Beatles gal). But how could you not love a line like this:
“I may not always love you / But as long as there are stars above you / You never need to doubt it.”
If you saw the film, Love Actually, you know song. "God Only Knows" is one of my favorite songs by the group, which is why it's on my list of "7 Memorable Brian Wilson Lines You Should Never Forget" that I wrote this morning.
Whether it's music, politics, or PR, the right line at the right moment matters.
[Read my list of songs here.]
Speaking of great lines...
On this week’s podcast (and on social media), I analyzed a few lines from Blake Lively—specifically, what she posted to Instagram Stories after a judge dismissed Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation suit against her.
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Bottom line: Baldoni lost a battle, but Lively's rep has taken a far greater hit.
In 99.9% of cases that land on my doorstep from clients who want to go legal in response to a crisis, my answer is: No.
No, you shouldn’t sue.
No, it won’t “clear your name.”
No, it won’t end well.
Want to know when it actually is the right move? I created a fillable 2-page Defamation Decision Tree just for that. It’s available now for members of my PR Breakdown community on Substack. 👉 You can find it here.
Because yes, there are rare cases when legal action is the right play. But most of the time?
It’s a mix of bruised ego, moral high ground, and a desire to make someone pay.
And that’s how reputations burn.
Just ask Lizzo. Or Ryan Reynolds. Or Blake Lively.
Listen to the episode, download the decision tree, and save yourself (or your client) from a costly, unnecessary mistake.
In summary:
✅ Defamation as a Crisis Strategy: What the Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni Case Got Wrong Listen now
✅ 7 Memorable Brian Wilson Lines You Should Never Forget Read Now
✅ "Should You Sue For Defamation? Download Now
✅ Join me tomorrow (Friday, 6/13) for Friday News Dump on Substack Live. Join the Chat at 9am