British political commentator Dr. Anthony Seldon should know better than to venture out of politics after this Red-faced media moment. The gaffe came when the headmaster of expensive Wellington College in Berkshire was asked to comment on the decision to name Engelbert Humperdinck the UK candidate for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
According to the DailyMail, Dr. Seldon replied on a live radio show: “I think that he is absolutely excellent. I’m all for boy-bands and young singers.”
Dr. Seldon was heard asking, “He’s old?” after he was reminded on the air that the British singer Humperdinck is 75 years old and qualifies as a pensioner. Later, the distinguished scholar insisted that he was only joking, adding “I was trying to be ironic but nobody believes me.”
Looks like media mistakes happen from Los Angeles to London. Dr. Seldon’s Red-faced moment occurred when he bluffed at not remembering Humperdinck. READY FOR MEDIA’s executive media training would have taught him not to lie, mislead or try to bluff.