The Blog DoggerTaboo words make for great PR

Protesters attack a movie for its language and the movie strikes it rich, plus farewell to a blogger

The list of taboo words grows longer by the day. There’s the f-word, n-word, k-word and, now, the r-word. And according to PR Newser, vilifying a word can be great PR.

Characters in the recent comedy, Tropic Thunder, utter the word “retard”—and its various derivatives—ad nauseum during the film. More than 130 outraged disability organizations have decried its usage by protesting the movie.

Meanwhile, Tropic Thunder vaulted to No. 1 at the U.S. box office last weekend by pulling in $26 million. Hollywood can thank disability organizations for the film’s big opening weekend, while these organizations can thank Tropic Thunder for increased exposure, claims PR Newser.

“Agitating garners publicity for both sides,” blogger Jason Chupick wrote. “The only time it doesn’t work is when the satire doesn’t have perfect pitch.”