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When you become well-known, whether as a company or a celebrity, sooner or later you're going to end upin the public eye. And with that comes opinions, both good and bad. Naturally, nobody wants the bad ones, because adamaged reputationcan cost money, opportunities, and sometimes even everything you've worked for.

Redditorsacross different threads asked people to share what they think are theworst PR disastersof all time, and there wasno shortage of answers. We've rounded up some of the most interesting ones below, so scroll down to read them, and if you think any other cases deserve a mention, drop them in the comments.

The Segway. They played it coy, dropped hints about this revolutionary new technology and how blown away we'd be, and how future cities would be redesigned from the ground up around this incredible breakthrough - an innovation touched by god.It was a scooter. We could all see it was a scooter. It doesn't hover, or make your teeth whiter while you sleep. Just a scooter.

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The one that irritated me the most was when Bank of America had one of their customers arrested for inquiring about a questionable check. The guy had made a transaction with someone on craigslist and was a little suspicious about the check he got, so he took it into his local branch to ask if it was legit. The teller held it for a bit, then said, "yeah, go ahead and sign it." Once he signed it they told him he was guilty of passing a bad check and arrested him.

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Sarah Palin being named as the Republican Vice Presidential Nominee for the year 2008. I said this last time this came up and I posted.For those who were to young to be in tune to the political situation of the day. Senator's John McCain and Barak Obama were the nominee's, Obama picked BIden as his running mate and McCain decided to pick the (then unknown) Former Governor of Alaska, Mrs Palin. The News cycle tried to get to know her, tried to introduce her to the people who would be voting her, but it was just constant "wait, wut?" reactions as her "Foreign Policy Experiance" came off sounding like "I can see Russia from my house (Thank you Tina Fey/SNL).Then there was a rather lengthy interview (or series) with Katie Couric, where Palin said "I love to read! It's Great!" and got stumped by the question "So what's the last thing you've read?"And things just kept spiraling out of control until the Election day feed from McCain HQ looked like eight guys in suits quietly hiding from reality while Ted Nugent tried to get some energy in the room.

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VWs emissions scandal. CEO resignation, huge drop in market value and sales, court cases, compensation claims....

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Anybody else remember the olean/olestra "Wow" potato chips back in the 90s? The idea was that the olean in the chips would prevent your body from absorbing some of the fat and calories, so you could eat the chips and not put on weight as fast. They eventually had to put a little disclaimer on the bag that mentioned they could cause "oily discharge". They gave a lot of people diarrhea and ruined a lot underwear.

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Jesy Nelson's solo debut.was so disasterous all the goodwill she had from Little Mix and her mental health work disappeared in basically 3 days.GrumpyPancake:I'm still so upset about her and how her whole solo thing started and immediately derailed. Especially bc I enjoyed the debut single, despite all the criticisms of it, and was looking forward to new music in that direction. The black girl cosplay tho, the blackfishing, girl why

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The disaster recovery official that spend a huge amount of time and emails worrying about what to wear on camera while hoards of people were losing their lives, trapped or living in squalor immediately after Hurricane Katrina.

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2006, then Senator George Allen referred to one of his assistants a certain name. He tried to play it off that he really didn't know what that name meant, or that it wasn't really meant to be racist, but no one bought it, and he lost reelection.

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The Chevy Nova. For some reason it just didn't sell well in Latin America. ("No va" means "doesn't go" in Spanish).

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DaBaby randomly being homophobic at the peak of his carreer, then having the worst response ever to a controversy like this where he said something like "my gay fans arent like that"and then on top of the controversy his carreer was already kinda imploding because he was releasing the worst singles ever i think its pretty much impossible for him to recover he lost the opportunity to be the new ludacris the pop-rap feature guy.

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Ashlee Simpson's SNL debacle. She was not well and couldn't sing, as was depicted in her reality show. Nevertheless, she chose to show up and lip sync, the wrong track played, and humiliation ensued.She kept going though. Her next album debuted at #1. She returned to SNL to sing for real, and did well, but people didn't talk about it much because it went well. She phased out of her commercial peak for unrelated reasons...I think she was just never poised to be a very big star for long. People still remember the incident and it does come up in interviews sometimes. Things turned out fine for her because she didn't blow the money she made and she's busy being a mom.

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Adele cancelling her Vegas residency a day before. So like all these fans flew in from wherever and were literally staying at the hotel when the announcement was made. And then there were all the people who had made accomodations for the next three months afterward.

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ARTPOP was pretty wack to live through. If she wasn't screaming at Perez Hilton to stop stalking her outside her apartment, she was melting down on Twitter about Katy and Madonna to promote a song with R Kelly.

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Hilaria Baldwin being exposed for faking she is Spanish and from Spain. Neither true.

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New Balance announcing support of the Trump administration for its pro domestic manufacturing policies.The left started to boycott them and burn their shoes.Meanwhile, the far right attempted to coopt them as the "official shoes of the alt right.".

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Barcelona's stupid hashtag when Messi got busted avoiding taxes. Even their own fans weren't defending him. #WeAreAllMessi

Paramore, when the Farro brothers left the band after the third album, Josh posted a rant online that personally attacked Hayley Williams as a diva, and more detrimentally, said the band was a fraud since Hayley was the only one signed to a label, and the rest of the group were just her employees.While the initial damage control was pretty effective, especially an hour long MTV interview where Hayley and the remaining members explained the intricacies of the situation, the image of the band, especially among those who already saw them as "the ones with the Twilight song", was pretty bad.Over time this has lessened, both albums released after the departure were met with great reviews, and Zach Farro rejoining the band indicated that maybe Josh' claims weren't as substantial as he claimed.

Story time, this is a blast from that past. Guns N' Roses, biggest band in the world dissappears around 1993. Axl Rose returns having fired the entire old band, Slash etc, after being in hiding for 8 years. Has a guy looking like the Alien from Alien on rhythm and a dude with a KFC bucket on his head playing lead guitar. Same guy does a numchuck dance before his guitar solo slot. First North American show in 8 years, band no shows in Vancouver, riot, Axl's private jet still parked on the tarmac at LAX. show cancelled, police have to tear gas the downtown.Tour goes on a few weeks, disaster VMA slot, Axl refuses to elaborate on whether a long awaited album will come out all, looks terrible and sounds out of breath. Axl then refused entry to nightclub in NYC because he was wearing animal fur. Sulks in his hotel room, no shows at Philly, second massive riot, millions in damages. Tour cancelled by Live Nation, Axl doesn't emerge for another 4 years.

Lee Ryan from the British boy band Blue ruining their US debut by saying that 9/11 terrorist attacks were "blown out of proportion" and asking people to be more concerned about the animals.

The Slap has turned out to be much bigger than I thought it would when it happened.xandrenia:This is truly one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen on live TV. Here we have a grown man getting up and slapping someone over an arguably offensive joke, screaming and cursing in his face, and nobody knew for a couple minutes whether it was real or not. It's still so shocking to watch.

Ariana Granda licking doughnuts and saying she hates America…..

Katy Perry's lead up and promo for WitnessJust the entire thing, the music videos, the 24 hour live stream, the performance at SNL, dressing up as Hilary Clinton for Halloween, hosting the VMAsAll of those had multiple people working on it and going yasss this is a great idea.

Taylor Swift and her private jet usage. She says she rents it out to others. As if that makes it better.

Christopher North, who played keyboards as a founding member of the soft-rock group Ambrosia, died Monday in a hospice in Los Angeles. He was 75.

His death was confirmed by Ambrosia's Joe Puerta, who said the cause was throat cancer. According to Puerta, North was seriously injured late last year when he was hit by a car as he walked into Fromin's deli in Santa Monica.

In a post on Ambrosia's Facebook account, the banddescribedNorth as "the Hammond B3 King" after his preferred instrument and said his "sonic architecture defined a generation of progressive and soft rock." North "was a keyboard wizard," the group added, "who brought an unmatched intensity and emotional depth to every performance" and whose work "created 'aural landscapes' that balanced virtuosity with soulful, radio-friendly hooks."

Purveyors of the breezy, lightly soulful sound that also brought success in the mid-1970s to acts like America and Seals & Crofts (whoseDash Crofts diedlast week), Ambrosia scored a string of top 40 hits in the second half of that decade, including two that went to No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100: "How Much I Feel" and "Biggest Part of Me," the latter of which was nominated for a Grammy Award for pop performance by a duo or group with vocals.

Today both songs are regarded as key examples of the style that became known retroactively as yacht rock; on Spotify, each has more than 120 million streams.

North was born Jan. 26, 1951, and grew up in San Pedro. He formed Ambrosia in 1970 with Puerta on bass, singer and guitarist David Pack and drummer Burleigh Drummond. The group's self-titled debut album came out in 1975; at the time, the band had a more ornate sound à la Genesis. Yet it had smoothed out by 1978's "Life Beyond L.A.," its first LP for the Warner Bros. label.

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"What we didn't like about progressive rock was that it was too flamboyant without substance," PacktoldThe Times in 1999. "Those bands dated themselves by making the arrangements more of the central focus than the quality of songwriting. I think that we were different in that respect."

The album "One Eighty" came out in 1980 and yielded a second hit after "Biggest Part of Me" in "You're the Only Woman (You & I)," which peaked at No. 13 on the Hot 100. The next year, Ambrosia's song "Poor Rich Boy" appeared on the soundtrack of the movie "Arthur" alongside Christopher Cross' chart-topping "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)."

Ambrosia broke up in 1982 but reunited in 1989; Pack later left, though the band's other three founders continued to perform. North's survivors include a brother and two children.

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This story originally appeared inLos Angeles Times.

Ahead of King Charles' visit to the U.S. next month, some lawmakers have called for the monarch to meet with Jeffrey Epstein victims

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• PEOPLE understands that the King will not be able to meet with survivors during the trip because of concerns that it will prejudice ongoing police investigations in the U.K.

• King Charles and Queen Camilla have both affirmed their continued support for Epstein survivors in past statements about the former Prince Andrew's ties to Epstein

Despite calls from some lawmakers forKing Charlesto meet with Jeffrey Epstein victims during his upcoming visit to the United States, such a meeting will not be possible.

Due to ongoing U.K. investigations into matters related to Epstein, King Charles and Queen Camilla will not be able to meet with survivors during the state visit in late April, PEOPLE understands.

Sources indicate that the concern is that anything emerging from such a meeting could potentially affect or prejudice the work of British law enforcement or any legal action that may or may not follow.

Over the last year, the King has been navigating the fallout from Epstein's ties to his brother, the formerPrince Andrew, and Andrew's ex-wife,Sarah Ferguson. Andrew, 66, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

Apalace statement released in October 2025, when King Charlesmoved to strip his younger brother of his royal titles and honorsover his connections to Epstein, said that the monarch and Queen Camilla "wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse."

Following Andrew's arrest in February, the King and Queenreleased another statement, which contained their first direct reference to Andrew's "conduct" as well as a renewed statement of support for Epstein's victims.

"The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor's conduct," the palace said in the statement on Feb. 9.

"While the specific claims in question are for Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police, we stand ready to support them as you would expect," the statement continued.

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"As was previously stated, Their Majesties' thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse," they concluded.

The King and Queen's state visit to the U.S. was confirmed on March 31. Though exact dates and events have yet to be announced, it is expected that the King will address a joint session of Congress.

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Rep. Ro Khanna, one of the most vocal members of Congress calling for justice and transparency regarding the full Epstein files, was the one whopenned an open letterto the King calling for him to meet with the victims.

"As author of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, I respectfully ask that you privately meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's and Ghislaine Maxwell's abuse, so they may speak to you directly about the ways powerful individuals and institutions failed them. Survivors want this meeting," Khanna wrote in his missive to the King.

"I make this request in light of recent developments in the United Kingdom, including renewed scrutiny of individuals and institutions with ties to Epstein and his network," he continued. "These developments have raised serious questions about conduct, access, and whether positions of public trust were misused or whether public institutions helped shield wrongdoing. Your call for a 'full, fair and proper' investigation, and for the law to take its course, recognizes the seriousness of these concerns."

"As you are aware, this is not solely an American matter. Epstein's network had significant ties to the United Kingdom through Ghislaine Maxwell, through Epstein's relationships with British public figures, and through the social and political circles in which he operated...A meeting with survivors would provide an opportunity to identify any additional information British institutions and individuals may be able to share and open a dialogue about whether there will be a full accounting of how Epstein's and Maxwell's network operated in the United Kingdom. It would also ensure that survivors are heard directly and that these matters are addressed with transparency, seriousness and accountability."

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VATICAN CITY (AP) —Pope Leo XIVexpressed hope that theU.S.-Israel war on Irancould be finished before Easter in remarks to reporters as he left the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo outside of Rome on Tuesday.

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"I'm told that President Trump has recently stated that he would like to end the war,'' the U.S.-born pope said. "I hope that he's looking for an off-ramp.''

"Hopefully he's looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that's being created, that's increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere."

Leo called on all world leaders to return to dialogue and look for "ways to reduce the amount of violence,'' so that "peace, especially at Easter, might reign in our hearts.''

Leo's remarks came during Holy Week, the most sacred period of the year for Christians.

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"It should be the holiest time of the year. It is a time of peace, a time of reflection. But as we all know, again, in the world, in many places we are seeing so much suffering, so many deaths, even innocent children,'' Leo said. "We constantly make the call for peace, but unfortunately, many people want to promote hatred, violence, war.''

On Palm Sunday, the pontiff said God doesn't listen to the prayers of those who make war or cite God to justify their violence, as he prayed especially for Christiansin the Middle Eastduring Mass in St. Peter's Square.

Leaders on all sides of the Iran war have used religion to justify their actions. U.S. officials, especiallyDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth,have invoked their Christian faith to cast the war as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might.

Russia's Orthodox Church, too, has justified Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a"holy war"against a Western world it considers has fallen into evil.

As Holy Week continues, Leo will carry out the Holy Thursday foot-washing tradition in the basilica of St. John Lateran, where popes have performed it for decades. On Friday, Leo is due to preside over the Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum commemorating Christ's Passion and crucifixion, and will carry the cross himself. Saturday brings the late night Easter Vigil, during which Leo will baptize new Catholics, followed a few hours later by Easter Sunday when Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.

Leo will celebrate Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square and then deliver his Easter blessing from the loggia of the basilica.

Video released by the Azusa Police Department this week shows the moment a man was freed from jail before he stepped into an unoccupied police car where he was found dead days later.

The surveillance video released Monday shows Eric Valencia, 37, after he was released from jail on March 23 around 1 p.m., according toKABC.He walked up to a parked patrol car outside the station. Valencia got into the back of a SUV andshut the door behind him.

Valencia had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and child endangerment on March 20 and held over the weekend before being released, said Azusa Police Chief Rocky Wenrick at a news conference.

"Mr. Valencia was released from custody with no apparent signs of distress," Wenrick said during the conference,according to KABC."Surveillance video shows Mr. Valencia unlawfully entering the rear seat area of patrol unit 37."

Valencia was initially pulled over for driving without headlights on and police suspected he was under the influence based on signs of watery, bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol in the car, Wenricktold Fox during an interview.

Two children, ages 3 and 11, were in the car with Valencia, Wenrick added. Valencia had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit during his arrest.

Valencia was freed on March 23 and given his property, cellphone and food, according to Wenrick. His body was found inside the unlocked SUV three days later when Wenrick told the fleet maintenance crew to take the patrol cars to get washed.

Valencia's cellphone was found in working order and he never called 911 for help, according to Wenrick.

Officials explained out-of-service vehicles are often parked for days or weeks while awaiting equipment installation. Typically, law enforcement vehicles cannot be unlocked from the back seats.

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"We're gonna do our best in the investigation to figure out why Mr. Valencia walked out and got in the vehicle," Wenrick said. "Hopefully we'll be able to provide closure to the family and for our own sake of knowing why that decision was made and why he did what he did."

Valencia's sister-in-law Julia McCormick told NBC4 that his family wants closure.

"Come to find out that he was here in a car the whole time. The whole time," she said. "We want to know what happened. Please, please, we want answers."

Authorities said that the department's out-of-service cars are parked outside while they're waiting for equipment to be installed. Law enforcement vehicles can't normally be unlocked from the back seat.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner is conducting an investigation and the cause of death wasn't available.

Valencia's family told KABC that Valencia lived less than a mile away and didn't have any medical conditions.

"They never even called me back. No one at the police department ever called me back to let me know that he was found on Thursday morning. The only phone call I got was from the coroner's investigator to let me know he was already passed," a family member said.

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This story originally appeared inLos Angeles Times.