Loose Lips Lose Leo
Another cost of poor communication
For the last three years, I’ve done a round-up of the Best and Worst Communication Moments of the year.
And every year, as I sift through the news and posts and stories I’ve written, I am reminded why communication is such an important skill (and why I do the work I do helping people improve their communication skills).
Strong communication skills can get you jobs, promotions, investment, relationships…
And on the flip side, look at the costs of poor communication.
A year ago, Elon Musk was flying high as Time’s Person of the Year.
Kanye West was cashing big checks from Adidas and Balenciaga.
Boris Johnson (presumably) could define a party.
Fast forward to today, and we’ve seen how poor communication has cost these men their reputations, their relationships, and their livelihoods.
But folks, there’s more…
Poor communication can cost you…Leonardo DiCaprio.
Just ask Victoria Lamas.
Who?
Yeah, I didn’t know who she was either.
Victoria is a 23-year-old actress (with a few credits on IMDB) who is speculated to be Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest… (‘girlfriend’ seems too strong a word) ... ‘special’ friend.
And her name is in the news not just because she was spotted outside a club with Leo, but because her dad gave an interview to The New York Post about it (which has since been quoted and published in many other outlets and on social media).
Why would Victoria’s dad talk to the press about his daughter when a simple ‘no comment’ would suffice?
Because Victoria’s dad is Lorenzo Lamas.
Lorenzo Lamas with his daughter Victoria (Credit: Getty Images)
Lorenzo is also an actor – though you might struggle to place him unless you watched the 1980s soap Falcon Crest or the 1990s show Renegade.
And when he was Victoria’s age, Lorenzo probably got a lot of attention.
But he’s 64 now – and far from the A-List and even Dancing with the Stars territory.
Maybe he thought a bit of exposure would help get a meeting for the next Sharknado film. Who knows?
But when the Post asked him questions about his daughter’s relationship with Leo, Lorenzo was happy to dish.
Now, most of us have an embarrassing dad story, but this one may take the cake.
Can you imagine you’re 23 years old, you meet a guy, you like a guy, and then YOUR DAD tells the press that you’re “smitten” and that you “like him very much.”
Dad, come on – play it cool!
This isn’t just some guy you met at the club – and this is Hollywood.
There are a lot of 23-year-old model/actress/influencers who are eager to hang on a yacht with a famous actor twice their age.
Lorenzo even relayed that he told his daughter “no trans-Atlantic cruises with Leo” – a joke that may have fallen flat given Titanic came out two years before Victoria was born.
But here’s where it gets even worse…
As if he hadn’t done enough damage already, 15 minutes after Lorenzo finished the conversation with the Post, he called back, after apparently being “admonished” by his daughter who wanted to “keep everything private.”
Lorenzo clarified that his daughter had met the more famous actor in a “social environment” and that they had a “friendship.”
The reporter then followed up, “Is she still very smitten?”
“Yeah, smitten,” Lorenzo replied. “But they're not dating.”
“She’s fond of him, obviously. But they’re not dating, and she does not want that out there because that would be really bad.”
Right…
You can almost hear the conversation, “Dad, Leo is very private! If he thinks I’m talking about him, there goes my spot on the jet to St. Bart’s!”
But Lorenzo couldn’t help himself.
He then reiterated – again – that his daughter was “smitten, of course.”
Lorenzo, STOP TALKING!
Now, time will tell what damage Lorenzo’s loose lips have caused his daughter and their relationship – not to mention her potential “friendship” with the Hollywood A-lister.
But it’s a reminder of how important it is to know your key messages — and communicate them simply and clearly.
And it’s also a reminder that sometimes, the best thing you can say is nothing.
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Beth Collier loves writing, pop culture, and Titanic (but never watched Renegade).
She also loves helping companies, leaders, and teams improve their communication (and creativity and leadership) through consulting, coaching, and workshops.
Her clients benefit from Beth’s global corporate experience, Midwestern practicality and enthusiasm, and an endless supply of pop culture references.
To find out how Beth can help you become a more confident, creative, and compelling leader – or improve communication in your company – visit www.beth-collier.com or drop her a line at beth@beth-collier.com
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