What we have in this image repair case seems to be a form of aporia—of talking about not being able to talk about something.

Josh Compton

Steve Rannazzisi, comedian and television celebrity, had claimed for years that he was in one of the New York City buildings struck by an airplane during the 9/11 terrorist attack. But in late 2015, pressed by US media about inconsistencies in his story, he confessed that he had not actually been there after all. This analysis examines Rannazzisi’s public relations image repair efforts using the framework offered by Benoit. Results indicate Rannazzisi used defeasibility and accident to explain his falsehood, but most prominently, claimed to not have an explanation for his false story. This study considers this unique type of celebrity image repair: a no-explanation explanation as an account of a transgression and its implications for public relations efforts. 

Compton, J. (2018, November). No explanation image repair [paper presentation]. National Communication Association, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.