When it comes to those affected by the Boston Marathon bombing, after people commiserate with victims and their families, there’s probably not a whole lot of sympathy left for the widow of bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, but attorneys for Katherine Russell say they are looking for fair treatment, not empathy. That, they say, is not what their client is getting from the new film, Patriot’s Day.

According to the attorneys, the film portrays their client in a very negative light, inferring she had prior knowledge of the attack and refused to cooperate with law enforcement after the fact. One of those attorneys, Amato DeLuca, told the Associated Press neither he nor his client has any objection to the film being made … but … “What I quarrel with is the license they take in portraying Katie as someone who did not cooperate and try to save lives. She did everything she could…”

Everything? There will be many who might quibble with that particular account of things, but it’s certainly something an attorney would put out there. But, will it matter? Generally, the public has zero sympathy for the immediate families of those convicted or judged to have been involved in terrorist activities. Without evidence, they may not think they were in on it, but barring evidence to the contrary, they won’t mind much if Hollywood’s depiction of the event doesn’t really shine too nice a light on the widow.

Russell, for her part, was never charged with any crimes associated with either the planning or the execution of the bombing, and DeLuca has repeatedly said she had no knowledge of the event. He asserts Russell was cooperative with investigators from the beginning of the investigation, something the movie seems to dispute.

In the film, the actor playing Russell is depicted as being defiant, uncooperative and insistent on needing an attorney when she is not under investigation. It’s a portrayal that, Russell feels, will create a narrative around her that is not the one she wishes people to see.

On that score, she’s probably right. Films have a way of creating their own reality around a situation, even when the public has some of the pertinent facts. Movie watchers will internalize the film portrayal of facts, mixing them and sometimes overlaying them over the real, and likely less compelling facts of a case. This is the hill Russell and her attorneys will have to climb. It’s steep, perilous, and slippery. Time will tell if they make any progress.

 

Read more from Ronn Torossian:

Ronn Torossian on Forbes
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Ronn Torossian on LinkedIn
Ronn Torossian’s Professional Profile on Muck Rack
Ronn Torossian on Business Insider

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Ronn Torossian is the Founder & Chairman of 5W Public Relations, one of the largest independently owned PR firms in the United States. Since founding 5WPR in 2003, he has led the company's growth and vision, with the agency earning accolades including being named a Top 50 Global PR Agency by PRovoke Media, a top three NYC PR agency by O'Dwyers, one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces and being awarded multiple American Business Awards, including a Stevie Award for PR Agency of the Year. With over 25 years of experience crafting and executing powerful narratives, Torossian is one of America's most prolific and well-respected public relations executives. Throughout his career he has advised leading and high-growth businesses, organizations, leaders and boards across corporate, technology and consumer industries. Torossian is known as one of the country's foremost experts on crisis communications. He has lectured on crisis PR at Harvard Business School, appears regularly in the media and has authored two editions of his book, "For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations," which is an industry best-seller. Torossian's strategic, resourceful approach has been recognized with numerous awards including being named the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, the American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year, twice over, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist, a Top Crisis Communications Professional by Business Insider, Metropolitan Magazine's Most Influential New Yorker, and a recipient of Crain's New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Outside of 5W, Torossian serves as a business advisor to and investor in multiple early stage businesses across the media, B2B and B2C landscape. Torossian is the proud father of two daughters. He is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and a board member of multiple not for profit organizations.