What do you do when disaster strikes and you’re embroiled in an influencer scandal? If your reputation has taken a hit, you need to know how brands decide whether to give you a second chance.
Don’t make the mistake of focusing on apologies and optics when brands are looking for something else entirely. They want to see real accountability, how your audience responds, and whether you still align with their values.
Learn which actions actually help repair trust—not just spin—and how to rebuild your credibility in a way that moves your career forward.
What do brands actually look for after your scandal?
When it comes to influencer reputation repair, brands follow a deeper evaluation framework to decide whether to keep working with a creator.
Here are five things they watch closely:
- Behavioral signals: Did you directly take responsibility, or did you deflect, minimize, or offer a vague half-apology?
- Audience reaction and recovery curve: Engaged brands analyze the tone of comments, shares, and sentiment trends. Is the anger intensifying or cooling?
- Pattern vs. one-off: Is this behavior part of a series of problems or a single lapse in judgment that seems out of character for you?
- Values alignment check: Does the language, tone, and actions of your response still reflect what the brand stands for?
- Risk forecasting: Could continuing the partnership cause customer trust issues, press scandals, or employee concerns?
These checks aren’t merely philosophical. They help protect brand equity while assessing whether you can grow through the moment or if continuing the relationship is simply too risky.
What to do immediately after a scandal
Your actions in the first 72 hours after a controversy are critical for showing accountability, operating transparently, and taking decisive action—all of which can help put you on the path to recovery more quickly.
- Own your mistakes early and specifically: A real apology includes an explanation of what happened, who was hurt, and what changes you will make. Vague statements undermine trust.
- Show your face: A sincere face-to-camera video shows vulnerability and accountability in a way that screenshots cannot.
- Pause promotions: Stop pushing sponsored content. It comes off as tone-deaf—even disrespectful—during a breach of community trust.
- Bring in reputation experts: Hiring an online reputation management (ORM) consultant firm can help you plan a more effective recovery.
- Pin accountability content: Keep key posts—apologies, progress updates, learning reflections—visible and accessible. Let followers see your progress in real time.
What long-term reputation recovery looks like
Once you start the internal work, your next step will be to begin your public recovery.
Share what matters. Don’t let the crisis define your content, but don’t pretend it didn’t happen either.
One of the biggest concerns for brands is whether an influencer’s recovery is genuine or just a polished performance.
Here’s how to demonstrate authenticity and transparency moving forward:
- Don’t rush: The worst thing you can do (whether you’re an influencer or a brand) is to rush back into creating regular content as if nothing has happened. In these situations, taking a pause isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s the smart and appropriate thing to do.
- Focus on doing, not saying: Show your audience what you stand for through action, not just apologies. Quietly, but clearly, let your audience see what’s happening behind the scenes: who you’re learning from, which communities you’re engaging with, and how your thinking has evolved.
- Be consistent over time: Ensure the values you presented during your apology are reflected in your actions months later.
- Be educational: Focus on creating content that informs and helps others understand the core issue.
- Engage with critics: Be sure to engage openly with dissenting voices. This shows maturity and a desire to listen, not just to secure brand deals.
Real growth comes from behavioral change and deeper engagement. Brands value influencers who transform a misstep into a meaningful evolution, not just a marketing refresh.
Will brands still work with you after the scandal?
This is the most uncomfortable and crucial question for influencers: Will brands walk away or help you rebuild your credibility?
Here are some considerations in a brand’s decision-making process:
- Severity matrix: If your behavior is criminal (such as sexual misconduct, fraud, or violence), brands will usually sever the relationship. The same applies to issues like hate speech. However, if the problem is merely tone-deaf or badly timed content, a brand might stand by you on the condition that you make a public apology.
- Safeguard brand equity: If continuing the partnership would alienate a brand’s customers or send the wrong message internally, then it might cut ties with you.
- Modeling ethical support: If you are demonstrating personal change and real learning as you navigate a scandal, then continuing the relationship can be an opportunity for a brand to display its steadfastness and commitment to you. For example, Nike’s decision to stand by Tiger Woods after his various scandals led to a profit that was “$1.6 million greater than it would have been without him.”
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. However, the best decisions are made with integrity, data, and the long view in mind.
Final takeaway
If you’re an influencer finding your footing after a public mistake, remember this: Reputation isn’t built by avoiding missteps; it’s what happens next that defines your outcome.
The right actions, taken with transparency and true intent, can transform your influence into something more resilient, more respected, and more aligned with what audiences now demand: authenticity, accountability, and meaningful connection.
Get started by seeing how others view you online and see exactly what needs to be repaired for free. Grab your online reputation report card today. Then speak with an online reputation repair expert to get started fixing our influence the right way.
This post was contributed by Rockey Simmons, founder of SaaS Marketing Growth.