express
Dianna Russini is turning to one of Hollywood's top crisis managers to help resurrect her career, even as that representative deals with her own legal issues. According to Page Six, Russini has brought on veteran crisis publicist Melissa Nathan to assist in moving past the Mike Vrabel controversy as the former NFL reporter prepares to return to work after resigning from The Athletic in April.
Sources indicate that while those directly involved in the controversy have moved on, mainstream football coverage continues, leading Russini to seek professional guidance for her comeback. Meanwhile, some NFL fans point to the controversy as a factor in the New England Patriots' slow start to the season.
Nathan's client list includes Logan Paul, Johnny Depp, and Justin Baldoni, but she has recently been in the headlines herself. She is currently in litigation with competing publicist Stephanie Jones over accusations that she orchestrated online smear campaigns during the Baldoni and Blake Lively "It Ends With Us" controversy. Nathan has consistently denied any wrongdoing, according to Page Six.
The Russini-Vrabel controversy erupted in April when the outlet published photos of Russini and the New England Patriots head coach holding hands at a resort in Sedona, Arizona, in late March, while both are married to other people. Vrabel initially downplayed the images, calling them a "completely innocent interaction" and adding, "Any suggestion otherwise is laughable." An eyewitness also described a scene at a New York City bar in March 2020 showing them kissing.
Russini left The Athletic during its internal inquiry into the situation while she was represented by CAA and remains listed with the agency. The company later said the relationship breached its newsroom standards due to a lack of disclosure but found no evidence that her reporting was compromised.
Mike Semel, the outlet's editorial director for standards and quality, stated, "Regardless of whether the relationship was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed." Semel also said he found no definitive evidence that Russini leveraged her platform to benefit Vrabel or his teams, though he noted she wrote "glowingly" about the coach on occasions that now seem problematic in retrospect.
Russini has not yet addressed the matter publicly, although she issued a concise statement following the inquiry. She declared, "I stand by any and all reporting I've ever done in my career." Reports say she intends to share her perspective once she secures her next position.
Russini reportedly considered multiple offers and wouldn't decide before Week 1 of the NFL season.
Originally reported by express.