This is quite a hard post for me to write because it revolves around a tragic event – namely the suicide of DDB Chicago Creative Director, Paul Tilley.
However as tragic as this is – and it truly is – this post is not to muse over the events that may or may not have contributed to Paul’s terrible decision, it is to say how disgusted I am that certain individuals in the industry have decided to point the finger of blame in the direction of Adscam and Agency Spy because in the past, they’ve both been critical of the work Paul and his agency produced.
Death is never easy to accept – and it is even harder when it happens by the persons own hand – however blaming people who were simply critical of that individual is one of the most hurtful things you could ever do.
Look, I understand how people want to blame someone when something like this happens and I understand how they want to protect the name of their family/friend/colleagues and I certainly understand how priorities and attitudes in life get completely refocused … but some of the comments being thrown around are outrageous and need to be reeled in before even more hurt and damage is caused.
The ad industry is a bitter and twisted one. It would be wonderful if that changed however it’s been like that since day one – which is why for most people who have been in it for a period of time, they develop a thicker skin towards criticism. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect them – no one likes being ridiculed – but it is something that is given and received with such frequency that its potency is severely diluted.
Did AdScam and Agency Spy sometimes cross the line?
Maybe!
Did AdScam and Agency Spy get personal?
However to blame them for what happened is both crediting them with far more influence than they could ever hope to have as well as demonstrating a complete lack of understanding regarding the issues and complexities that someone who takes this decision is going through at the time.
As I said I didn’t know Paul and I am very sorry for what has happened, however his decision had nothing to do with the comments made by Adscam and Agency Spy and anyone who says otherwise is guilty of grief, ignorance or hypocrisy.
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