---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bad press started to play a big part…"
description: "\"The bad press started to play a big part in how people perceived me, and I started playing on that too, which was a big mistake.\" — Sergei Polunin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/sergei-polunin-3855_bad_the-bad-press-started-to-play-a-big-part_2221736.jpg"
---

#  The bad press started to play a big part in how people…

![“The bad press started to play a big part in how people perceived me, and I started playing on that too, which was a big mistake.” quote by Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/sergei-polunin-3855_bad_the-bad-press-started-to-play-a-big-part_2221736.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/sergei-polunin-3855_bad_the-bad-press-started-to-play-a-big-part_2221736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/sergei-polunin-3855_bad_the-bad-press-started-to-play-a-big-part_2221736.jpg)

> “The bad press started to play a big part in how people perceived me, and I started playing on that too, which was a big mistake.”

[Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Admits using negative media attention as a strategy, which proved harmful.

**In simple terms:** Using bad press as a tactic backfired.

Key Takeaway

Avoid leveraging negative publicity for personal gain.

Themes

reputation media strategy mistake

Mood

reflective cautionary

Type

advice warning

When to use this quote

- celebrity interviews
- social media posts
- press releases

Key Concepts

public image self‑promotion risk management

Questions to Reflect On

- What are healthier ways to shape public perception?
- When does controversy become counterproductive?

A Different Perspective

Negative press can damage credibility long‑term.

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[Bad press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-press/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/)

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