After her NBC series, Smash, was cancelled after two seasons, Katharine McPhee is back in the news! But not for a good reason. She was recemtly caught canoodling in public with Smash director, Michael Morris.
She has reportedly been separated from her husband, Nick Cokas, for months. But Morris, by all accounts, is still very married to actress, Mary McCormack, who kicked him out of the house when she found out about the photos prior to TMZ posting them.
One insider tells US Weekly that the Katharine “is SO embarrassed she was caught.”
PR experts weigh in with FOX News on if and how Katharine can recover from the scandal:
Could the scandal hurt Katharine’s career?
“This probably won’t affect Katharine McPhee’s sales or her ability to get roles in the near future but her likability factor will be seriously tarnished,” Jamie Krauss – PR Director at the Narrative Group, todl FOX411. “When female stars act as home wreckers , the American public, but particularly women, tend to sour to them very fast. Look at Kristen Stewart or Leann Rimes or even Angelina Jolie. All of them took a lot of heat for their famous affairs.”
Should Katharine apologize?
“Katharine McPhee should come out with a statement. It’s always important to be ahead of a story you don’t want to let the rumor mill run wild but the problem is and why everyone is so upset is because even though she was apparently separated from her husband and has been for about six months,” Krauss continued. “Michael Morris, we hear, was not.”
Ken Shadford, Director at Maxim TV disagrees. Of course he would.
“Katharine McPhee having an affair with this director, this sort of thing usually helps someone’s career in this day and age,” he said. “Just this side of a sex tape, getting in the scandal sheets is sort of the way to go to help your career.”
And Shadford’s advice for Katharine now:
“The way that Katharine McPhee could really make this work for her is if she goes out an adopts a bunch of children.”
Hm. Blowback has been immediate for Michael Morris. According to Deadline, he lost a gig directing an E! Channel pilot.
Michael Morris has fallen out of directing Songbyrd, one of E!‘s first two scripted pilots. Morris, who previously directed seven episodes of NBC’s Smash, was to reunite with Smash executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who executive produce the music-themed Songbyrd that centers on songwriter Lauren Byrd (Bethany Joy Lenz), a character loosely inspired by hitmaker Diane Warren, and her staff.
Oh. Smash producers. The affair began on their watch, more or less. Maybe they don’t want to appear as if they condone his behavior.
Via: US Magazine, Fox News, Deadline
