Disgraced radio host Jian Ghomeshi, who was acquitted in March 2016 of all charges in a high-profile sexual assault case, has resurfaced online after more than a year in social media hiding.
Ghomeshi, 49, emerged on social media Monday morning, in an apparent attempt to promote a new project of his.
“Hi. For those interested, here is something I’ve been working on,” the former CBC radio personality tweeted with a link to his new podcast.
Ghomeshi’s new project, dubbed The Ideation Project, is “a creative adventure” aimed at “taking a bigger picture view on newsworthy issues and culture, with the goal of asking questions and starting conversations,” according to the project’s website.
The Ideation Project is a new media creative project that features all original words, music, recording and production,” reads a description on the website. “The content covers a variety of topics from politics to philosophy to pop culture and the human condition.”
READ MORE: A timeline of the Jian Ghomeshi sex assault scandal
The website features a six-and-a-half minute video titled “Exiles” where Ghomeshi talks over black and white stock footage of various cities around the globe.
In March 2016, Ghomeshi was acquitted of sexually assaulting three women and a fourth charge was later dropped by the Crown.
It appears Ghomeshi hired Reputation.ca to assist in public relations around his new project and his online presence.
In an email statement to Global News, a spokesperson with Reputation.ca described Ghomeshi’s project as “an audio-visual creative project that features all original words, music, recording and production by Jian Ghomeshi” before reiterating the project’s initiative that’s published on the website.
READ MORE: If acquitted, PR experts believe Jian Ghomeshi’s career may bounce back
“The Ideation Project aims to take a bigger picture view on newsworthy issues and bring nuance, balance, and perspective with the goal of starting conversations. In this 140-character environment issues are often simplified and the purpose of the project is to create dialogue,” reads the statement.
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According to Reputation.ca’s website, the company “has a mission to help people and companies improve and protect their reputations online.”
The Toronto-based company offers several services which include “personal online reputation management.”
“Are mistakes from your past following you around on the web? Does negative online content portray the wrong image about you as a person?” reads a description on the company’s website. “In the digital age, our reputations can be shattered by negative content published online. This leads to embarrassment, loss of income, social exclusion and hurts the image you have worked hard to build.”
Reputation.ca Ltd. says it uses “a variety of proven techniques” in an effort to “dilute down or completely remove negative content about you to ensure you’re creating the optimal first impression.”
“I don’t know how you guys did it and I don’t care. I am just happy that the bad result is now buried way down on the fourth page of Google,” reads a customer testimonial on Reputation.ca.
Reaction to Ghomeshi’s emergence on social media was swift.
“HEY @JianGhomeshi is trying to make a come back and let’s make sure it doesn’t happen. Don’t follow him. Don’t listen to his stuff. Silence,” Jenny Wooldridge tweeted.
https://twitter.com/jwool94/status/851430033612824576
“How about you just climb back beneath that rock you’ve been hiding under?” Gord Spence tweeted.
https://twitter.com/GordSpence/status/851423340086661122
“Hey man Welcomeback. So happy. Ive never turned my radio to #CBC after you. We were sure you were innocent,” another user tweeted.
Here’s a look at some of the reaction:
-Global News reporter Sean O’Shea contributed to this report
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