From apprenticeships and qualifications to professional development and employability skills. Supporting learners, partners, and centres with tools to deliver, assess, and grow.
Join a professional community committed to excellence in management and leadership. Access exclusive resources, and recognition pathways including Chartered Manager.
Connect, celebrate, and lead with CMI’s vibrant community. From events and awards to networks and campaigns, get involved and help shape the future of management.
Stay informed with expert insights, thought leadership, and the latest in management. From in-depth features to practical guidance, explore the ideas shaping today’s workplace.
Learn about CMI’s mission, values, and impact. From our Royal Charter to governance, careers, and sustainability commitments, discover who we are and what drives us.
03 October 2014 -
Jermaine Haughton
He’s no stranger to the headlines – but this week, a famous businessman’s misstep on to a garden rake in the long grass of social media led him to threaten legal action against a Twitter user.
Celebrities are constantly asked for retweets, whether from fans trying to get questions answered, or people wanting to get their names out to the large followings of famous individuals. As such, people know they have to be imaginative to get their tweets resent. That could depend upon perfect timing, a very funny message… or playing on heartstrings.
On Monday, the account of one Philip Bradbury tweeted out to magnate and US Apprentice host Donald Trump to say: “My parents who passed away always said you were big inspiration. Can you pls RT for their memory?” Sure enough, the plea worked, and @realDonaldTrump quickly retweeted the message.
At first glance, Bradbury’s tweet seemed a genuine and emotional request. But the picture attached was in fact the wedding photo of infamous serial killers Fred and Rose West. Of course, in his defence, Trump probably wouldn’t have recognised the couple anyway as the Wests’ crimes were very much a British story. But as we’re now accustomed to on social media, once other users pointed out Trump’s blunder, a fun-poking scrum ensued. In little time, the beleaguered businessman was hit with a flurry of other RT requests, referencing various relatives while attaching sinister pictures ranging from Hitler to Darth Vader.
Trump later tweeted: “I thought I was being nice to somebody re their parents. I guess this teaches you not to be nice or trusting. Sad!” He followed up with: “Some jerk fraudulently tweeted that his parents said I was a big inspiration to them + pls RT-out of kindness I retweeted. Maybe I'll sue”.
Trump has frequently made gaffes on Twitter, and this wasn’t the first time he had people making fun of him – or his hair – on the social media platform, so perhaps he should have been more aware of the consequences.
We’ll never know whether Trump was actually trying to be nice, or just retweeting some rather sycophantic praise. But his action certainly illustrates the dangers of blindly resending someone else’s messages on social media.
On this occasion, it was probably just a brief embarrassment for the celebrity in question. But Twitter users should always be conscious of the dangers inherent in retweeting something that could be harmful to others – or even end up becoming a legal issue.
Will Edwards is managing director of media training consultancy Bluewood Training
Having trouble with YOUR personal branding? Check out the details on this forthcoming CMI seminar Me Ltd, set to take place on 16 October.
› The persistence of presenteeism and other nuanced nonsense
› A new age of vulnerability: why inclusive leadership matters more than ever
› Ask yourself: "How do I make my employees feel?"
› Finance and the Diversity Dividend
For more information or to request interviews, contact CMI's Press Team on 020 7421 2705 or email press.office@managers.org.uk
› The 5 Greatest Examples of Change Management in Business History
› Four companies that failed spectacularly, and the lessons of their premature demise
› 6 companies that get employee engagement – and what they do right
› 4 Signs That Racism May Be An Issue In Your Workplace
› How to build an Effective Team: focus on just 3 things