I’ve heard it mentioned that fame is probably the most addictive of all medicine. I’ve been skeptical about this, however Elizabeth Holmes’ ongoing PR saga makes me surprise whether it is, in actual fact, true.
Holmes has appeared in People journal to inform us that jail is “hell and torture,” in the identical means that one may say “butt and ass” or “dick and cock.” The level of hell, for these of you who will not be up on Christian theology, is torture. That’s what it’s for.
The People profile reuses most of the New York Times’ glamour photographs, which is smart: it’s arduous to get images of inmates. But even when Holmes is inside, her publicist is working extra time. As within the The Times’ profile, the emphasis is on Holmes as a mom, and the way arduous it’s for her to be away from her kids. “I’m not the identical individual I used to be again then,” Holmes tells People, vaguely saying that “there are issues I might have carried out in a different way.” She nonetheless insists Theranos was a failure, not a fraud. Girlie, this one’s over. We all heard you lie.
You know, I might need managed her picture in a different way. For starters, I seemingly would have waited a number of extra years earlier than making an attempt to hunt redemption. That provides folks time to overlook issues just like the grueling hours she anticipated from staff, the misdiagnoses of (variously) HIV and miscarriage, and — clearly — all of the lies. It additionally provides Holmes extra do-gooder accomplishments to tout, and possibly some extra secondary sources for interviews to say what a pleasant woman she is. I’d even attempt to discuss her into admitting the factor everyone knows, that she engaged in fraud, so she will be able to lastly have some form of credibility.
But it appears Holmes can’t abdomen ready, or telling the reality about Theranos. So she’s telling People tales about saving her breast milk in order that she will be able to really feel a connection to her baby. There can also be this assertion, which I discover myself interested in: “Later, Holmes spoke to the jail’s warden about permitting girls to breastfeed privately and authorities ultimately constructed a number of lactation rooms within the housing models in 2023.” Am I to imagine that Holmes has a lot sway in a jail that she will be able to get amenities constructed? Or had been these amenities already deliberate? It’s not clear from People’s accounting.
I’m additionally not clear if the publicist is intentionally choosing incurious reporters, those who’re best to play, or if doing any precise work looks like it’s past the remit of People, however in some sense, it doesn’t matter. She can name herself Liz if she likes. She’ll all the time be Elizabeth Holmes to me.
