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Love Island finalist Maura Higgins has received a backlash over her alleged ‘drunken kiss’ with Danny Jones, but a brand strategist has teased that she will ‘come out on top’
The backlash Maura Higgins has faced following her kiss with married Danny Jones will subside and end with her ‘coming out on top’, a PR expert has predicted.
Maura, 34, and her former I’m A Celebrity co-star Danny, 39, were seen locking lips at a BRIT Awards after-party in London earlier this month. Footage released shortly after the awards ceremony showed Danny, who is married to Georgia Horsley, 38, with whom he shares son Cooper, seven, getting close to the ex Love Islander.
Both Maura and Danny have come under fire from fans following their late-night antics. While despite being the single one, a friend of Maura’s told the Mirror the reaction has been “utterly relentless,” adding that “the abuse” she’s experienced over the situation has been “off the charts”.
Maura is yet to publicly comment on the scandal, like McFly member Danny and his wife Georgia, but has continued posting to Instagram amid the furore. Maura shared snaps of her jetting off to Los Angeles first class and then shared more photos of her glamorous work trip. While Danny has kept silent with the exception of reposting birthday messages from his fans and celebrity pals.
Sharing his thoughts on the differing approaches to the drama, talent and brand strategist Dylan Davey, who founded The Social Inc, has suggested that Maura won’t be defeated for one simple reason.
While Danny has gone to ground since the news broke, Maura has refused to be cut off – continuing to post about her glamorous jet-setting lifestyle and larking about with pals.
Expert Dylan says: “Maura has been through a lot and has thick skin so I have a feeling she will come out on top regardless. She is young, popular, beautiful and in demand.” He then added: “All this is doing is giving her some temporary backlash, which will subside once she has played her next moves publicly.”
Asked if it’s advisable for a celebrity to release a statement to direct the narrative amid a scandal, Dylan suggested the best way to tackle bad publicity is to ‘control the narrative’ , as Maura has by promoting her lucrative next modelling campaign.
“Getting on the front foot can definitely be a way to control the way a news story pans out publicly, but it’s really down to the talent individually to sign off a strategy,” says Dylan “The benefit of speaking out means you take back an element of control, and also stops any articles or speculation that can cause any damage. I’m a big believer in controlling the narrative otherwise it becomes silly season.”
McFly’s Danny and wife of 14 years Georgia are said to be “very much together,” with a source telling us recently: “They are clearly looking to put things behind them, and move on with their lives.” Following their united front in photos released this week, Dylan speculates that Danny will “come out of this fine” too.
He commented: “Danny has a hugely loyal fanbase of over 20 plus years, this fanbase are the same fanbase that voted for him to win the jungle, the same fanbase that voted for Dougie to win in the jungle and who buy tickets that sell out McFly arena tours and keep them alive as a group.
“Therefore on that basis I think Danny will come out of this fine if he manages to sort things out with his wife and commits to a strategy that shows that they will continue to be strong as a unit and have worked through their issues.”
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