“Not great, but nothing we can’t manage.” Her no-nonsense tone tells me she’s being kind. “There is some positive press too.”
“Really? Where? Cause I am not seeing it.” I made the mistake of searching my name in Dallas. The articles from this morning were kind compared to the new ones.
“A few outlets used it to promote your causes.”
“Sounds like a well-placed phone call helped influence that.”
“Maybe, but it still worked.”
“Of course, they all focus on me and not Preston.”
She doesn’t bother responding and instead lays out her plan for damage control. We agree it’s best to not answer any phone calls or respond to anyone, and for me to stay off the app to avoid the hate being spewed.
“I need to call Preston.” If we are a team, I need to learn how to be part of a team. Moving to my bedroom, I dial his number and wait for him to answer.
“Hey, Hollywood.” His voice soothes the ache inside.
“Did you get home okay?” I called him in tears after being bombarded by the paparazzi at the airport. I’m a wreck.
“Sure did. Miller picked me up. Are you at your condo?” He was very worried about me getting home okay.
“I am. Tay is here. We’ve been talking about how to manage the media.”
“What did you come up with?” I fill him in on Taylor’s suggestions. “But since we are a team, what do you think we should do?”
“Are you really asking?”
“Yes.” I wish he was here holding my hand.
“I think we should take control and change the narrative.”
“How do we do that?” You’d think after all these years in the industry I would be used to this or at least know what to do next but I don’t. The media attention has always been draining but I was also told from a young age that all press is good press. That this is how the media outlets are and there is nothing we can do. I’ve never been given the opportunity to fight back.
“First, I think I need to get involved. There’s no going back now. Our names are now linked so it’s time for me to make a statement. Talk to some press. Make it known that this was a happenstance situation and that I pursued you.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.” I’ve never had someone willing to fight back with me and I hate that I’ve put him in this position. Don’t get me wrong, Tay is great but by the time she became my publicist, I had already adjusted my habits. I hid from the media when I could. I didn’t let them into my real life. I played the part, and I played it well. But now, I’m tired of being a puppet dancing on the strings pulled by other people.
“You’re not asking. Let me fight this battle. Part of being a team is letting the other person carry the weight sometimes. You’ve been fighting too long against a broken system. It’s time someone stood up for you. I told you that I am in this. That I will shout from the rooftops that you are mine. Now, it’s time I do that.”
“I can’t let you do all the work. I need to stand up for myself too. It’s time I take my voice back.” Pride seeps into Preston’s tone.
“That’s my girl.” Smiling to myself, the weight on my shoulder releases.
I feel lighter.
Just knowing I don’t have to handle this alone. That Preston is on my side and fighting in my corner, makes me feel like I can conquer anything.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Preston
June 17
More people came to her defense than Ivory expected. Seeing my girl in tears on video calls over the outpouring of support for her really hit home for me. To know that she has been in this business for almost two decades and has always felt like she’s in it alone hurts.
I vowed then and there that she would never question my commitment or support. Between the social media push from industry friends and former co-stars touting Ivory’s charitable contributions over the years, media outlets began to take notice. They started reaching out to everyone, including Ivory directly.
Ivory was able to refocus the narrative on her contributions and initiation of relief efforts for out of work actors, crew, and workers during the pandemic. Also sharing her massive support to healthcare workers and the campaign for more protective equipment in the early days when hospitals were in dire straits.
