Every now and then, we get a harsh reminder of the importance of authenticity.  I stumbled across a particularly harsh reminder at the Carroll Gardens subway stop over the weekend. The ‘Absolut Brookyln’ poster, for the Absolut Brooklyn vodka (designed by Brooklyn-born Spike Lee) – had been hijacked to read ‘come one spike. Absolut disgrace’.

It’s not enough to just have a celeb endorse your product, even if they do have some claim to authenticity (Spike was actually born in BK). BUT…Spike Lee now lives in the Upper West Side and the feeling of him ‘selling out’ is strong and mounting.

So a big watch out for all of us trying to do the community thing. Keep it real.

Spokespeople will always get shown up by Spokesdoers.