Jerry dumps publicist!

In article , [email] wrote:

I heard it might have something to do with the "Vanity Fair" cover story about to come out on Jerry.

I read, I believe in the Post, that the Vanity Fair article is really very flattering, in spite of the fact that the writer of the article had done hatchet jobs previously on Courtney Love and Jami Tarses. I too wonder if he has not cared for the leaks and the general handling of these final weeks. Plus, maybe he doesn't need a fulltime publicist after the series is over. alt showbiz gossip

RGINA wrote:

If the writer in question is the Vanity Fair one who did a story on CL and Kurt Cobain in... 92 I think, it was not only unflattering, but a downright lie. There was no truth behind it, and served no purpose but to damage Clove's and Kurt's careers.

Word is the Vanity Fair story is pretty upbeat and positive on Jerry, despite the writer's past hatchet jobs on others. (Seinfeld is quite well liked in the entertain- ment industry generally, and has a reputation for being cordial with fans as well.) So that probably had little or nothing to do with it.

The publicist in question, though she's been per- sonally friendly with Jerry, has developed a reputation for arrogant and downright mean conduct toward the media she's supposed to be working with. That's NOT what you want in a publicist. Even when he or she has to say "no" to a media request, it should be done with courtesy, diplomacy and at least thesuggestion that some- time later, something more positive might happen. This woman was reported by the NY Daily News to have been burning Jerry's bridges, in many cases without his knowledge, just at the time when he'll need good re- lations with the media to help him launch a new phase of his career. And apparently he's not the only client who's dumped her in recent months, either...

Bob Smith, afternoons WXXI-AM 1370, Rochester NY

Me too! Hope he is taking resumes!

There's an interesting article in LA Weekly this week by Charles Fleming, shedding more light on this publicist-gate thing. It seems some rules of journalism were breached by the writer of the Vanity Fair article. Not only did she somehow get the unpublished piece into Jerry's hands for him to tinker with before it went to press, but Jerry's publicist found out and Vanity Fair editors then found out--the writer, Lynn Hirschberg, was then fired from Vanity Fair, and Jerry's publicist was fired by Jerry. Ouch! To make conflict- of- interest matters even worse, Hirschberg admitted she has gone out with Jerry in public. Almost sounds like a plot from Seinfeld, without the laughs. alt showbiz gossip