# I have forgotten the word for the person who speaks for a celeb. Help. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 31, 2012, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646 "2012-12-31T07:29:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/1 "2012-12-31T07:29:54Z")
Isn’t there an official title for one who speaks on behalf of a celebrity to the media? I keep wanting to say, “spokesperson” but I know that isn’t right. I know that’s the word for when a celeb (or anyone) is selling a product. What word am I searching for? ---
**Author:** ![Jayseki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@Jayseki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayseki)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/2 "2012-12-31T07:38:34Z")
publicist ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/3 "2012-12-31T07:59:32Z")
Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/4 "2012-12-31T08:03:31Z")
Also, the publicist is a “doctor,” because they can accurately and quickly diagnose a young celebrity with “exhaustion.” ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/5 "2012-12-31T08:11:49Z")
And “dehydration”. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/6 "2012-12-31T08:59:05Z")
Spokesperson? ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/7 "2012-12-31T09:44:38Z")
Spokesperson is really much better. A publicist might speak for their client sometimes, but it isn’t the main part of their job. When they do, they are really acting in the role of spokesperson. I suspect the main problem publicists have to deal with is clients that are “tired and emotional”. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/8 "2012-12-31T10:44:29Z")
I came in to say that “Publicist” and “Spokesman/woman” are different things - a publicist will organise/distribute a press release, while a spokesman/woman will be the one speaking on behalf of the indisposed/unavailable celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/9 "2012-12-31T11:33:29Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > Spokesperson is really much better. A publicist might speak for their client sometimes, but it isn’t the main part of their job. When they do, they are really acting in the role of spokesperson. > > I suspect the main problem publicists have to deal with is clients that are “tired and emotional”. What on Earth do they say when their client really and truly _was_ tired and emotional? Do they claim they were loopy on pain pills and whisky? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/10 "2012-12-31T12:19:56Z")
Then what’s an agent? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/11 "2012-12-31T12:24:08Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > Then what’s an agent? Someone who finds work for the celebrity and negotiates contracts on his or her behalf. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/12 "2012-12-31T12:39:33Z")
Spokesman. Publicist. Agent. Being an actor is an expensive job. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/13 "2012-12-31T12:42:18Z")
Manager. Lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/14 "2012-12-31T12:55:07Z")
Mouth of Sauron ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/15 "2012-12-31T14:06:04Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Isn’t there an official title for one who speaks on behalf of a celebrity to the media? I keep wanting to say, “spokesperson” but I know that isn’t right. I know that’s the word for when a celeb (or anyone) is selling a product. > > What word am I searching for? A celebrity might designate anyone as an official spokesperson, so “spokesperson” is the best descriptor, whether their alternate role is press secretary, family member, acquaintance, lawyer, agent, publicist, lackey or sycophant. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/16 "2012-12-31T14:06:11Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Mouth of Sauron I came here to same the same. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/17 "2012-12-31T15:42:35Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Someone who finds work for the celebrity and negotiates contracts on his or her behalf. An agent negotiates broad terms. A lawyer actually draws up a contract. A lot of agents are also lawyers, but these functions can be split between two people. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/18 "2012-12-31T16:49:31Z")
Flack. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/19 "2012-12-31T23:46:56Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Flack. Correct. Of course they never call themselves that. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646/20 "2013-01-01T04:08:40Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > What on Earth do they say when their client really and truly _was_ tired and emotional? Do they claim they were loopy on pain pills and whisky? The thing that makes this seem stupid to me is that it makes celebs sound really emotionally fragile and lazy. Your idea makes more sense, just to play it up more and make them look better. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-forgotten-the-word-for-the-person-who-speaks-for-a-celeb-help/645646.md?page=2)