PR Guru Bragman on JetBlue's Slater

Steven Slater, the controversial JetBlue flight attendant who made a dramatic exit from the airline following an altercation with a passenger, has enlisted top publicist Howard Bragman, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Bragman, a veteran publicist who has aided numerous clients, including Meredith Baxter and Chely Wright, will help Slater sort through offers for books, interviews, and reality shows.

The two men met and were photographed together over the weekend at a Barry Manilow concert. Slater has "hit something in the zeitgeist," Bragman tells the Reporter. Bragman says he will handle his media relations and act as his manager.

Asked why people are so interested in Slater's story, Bragman offers several reasons:

"I think it's because he's hit three things in the zeitgeist. First, Steven's situation touched on something we all understand. We all talk about unemployment and how it's hurt people, but it's also affected those still in the work force. Those people are working harder for less money.

"Everyone is stressed, squeezed, and we all share and understand that. We all understand how hard we're working and how we don't seem to be getting ahead or being able to pay our bills. And we're all still worried for our jobs.

"It also touched on the lack of basic manners and decency in society. When people yell out during State of the Union and congressional things -- they yell, 'Liar' -- we're looking at a loss of basic civility and manners. And that troubles a lot of people. They're concerned about that loss.

"Then, of course, there's the whole airline experience today. Steven said to me, 'I used to supply Chateaubriand for people going to Europe on TWA, and now I throw a bag of Cheetos at someone who can't be bothered to take a shower before they get on an airplane.'"

Of potential criminal charges, Slater "is handling the situation with intelligence, humor, and integrity," Bragman says.