Comedian and radio personality Jess Moore, publicly known as Jess Hilarious, went viral after publicly hashing out concerns with her co-hosts on The Breakfast Club (TBC). In an Instagram live, Moore compared the eponymous morning show to high school. Chief among her concerns was returning from maternity leave and realizing the person whom she selected to fill in for her – Loren LoRosa – had been made a permanent part of the show.
I can only imagine the indignity she likely felt. The most vulnerable time for women is when they are pregnant. If one is lucky enough to get paid maternity leave, they may have a lot of anxiety about what will happen when they take time off.
In a world where women are viewed as commodities and Black women are evaluated based on what they can produce, not laboring can invoke feelings of uncertainty and angst. Coupled with post-partum woes, work stress can add a level of pressure that may be difficult to manage.
However, this situation cannot be laid at Loren LoRosa’s feet. The fact that this private workplace issue has spilled out into the public domain is really a reflection of the leadership of TBC.
If TBC was going to keep Loren – and I believe they were smart to keep her – the decision should have been clearly communicated. This lack of clarity put LoRosa and Moore in an unenviable position. For her part, Moore may have been questioning what was happening and why. LoRosa could have been caught off guard as well, likely wondering the root of Moore’s apparent hostility. If top brass at TBC had clearly communicated (assuming they didn’t), perhaps they could have stymied some of the confusion and frustration.
Additionally, this situation brings up several things that are important for us to remember from a PR perspective and career perspective:
There is Room for us All
Everyone brings different skillsets and talents. We don’t have the same strengths and that is okay. It also worth noting that different personalities will meet the needs of different audiences. The question for The Breakfast Club is who is your audience and in which ways can both personalities engage different audiences. The point is this doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game; there is room for us all. The problem arises when we believe there can only be one.
Turning to Social Media to Air Out Problems Will Always Be Risky
Running to social media to air out our problems will always be risky. I know what it’s like to be so frustrated, you want to expose everyone. But I’ve also had to remind myself that my job is not to dispense with punishment. That’s not my role. And airing our grievances online will not bode well. When we have challenges, it is important to seek trusted places where we can be vulnerable. It’s important to also examine the root of our issue because it’s often not what is showing up at the surface. We should be identifying friends who will hold our confidence and create a safe place for us to vent, process and heal. When we run to social media, we will be associated with that experience, long after the experience has ended. The question becomes ‘is this how we want to be known?’
Additionally, I could see media companies exploiting this grievance for views and then letting Jess go when the dust settles. I just don’t see how this will work out well for her in the long-term.
Pet to Threat
Black women have often had the experience of going from pet to threat notes Erika Stallings. Many have had the experience of being brought in to perform a job and being well-received by colleagues initially. They may even be treated like a pet or a project. When it becomes clear that a person takes their job seriously and will devote time to improving, that rattles some people. I feel like Loren was initially viewed as a pet. And then she was really good; so good that the viewers and fans really liked her. As her popularity rose, she became a threat. This is unfair and it doesn’t feel good to be in the situation. It’s almost as if you’re penalized for being good.
The bottom line is that this is really about leadership at TBC. Conflict is inherent in all facets of life. How we handle the conflict will determine the strength of our relationships and it also impacts our career. However, not all conflict can be addressed via the people experiencing it. Sometimes leaders can unknowingly create conflict by failing to be honest and failing to have difficult conversations. In the end, the only people who will pay the price are the women involved. I don’t see this situation boding well for Moore and it may also adversely impact LoRosa aswell. That’s a shame because there is truly room for us all.
Jennifer R. Farmer, aka The PR Whisperer®, is an author, lecturer and strategic communications expert. Check out our blog posts and subscribe for updates.