Is the Rihanna & J. Cole Sex Tape Just Another Larry Flynt Publicity Stunt?

If so, it seems to be working. News of the tape has been widely reported, from the celebrity blogosphere to the Washington Post. Both Rihanna and J. Cole felt the need to respond to the rumor, which they deny.

True or not, Hustler, a division of Beverly Hills-based Larry Flynt Publications, is getting plenty of free publicity out of the deal. And that’s good for any publishing company. As with mainstream media, the combination of a recession and the proliferation of free online content has hit the porn industry hard. Hustler is no doubt feeling the squeeze, and making headlines certainly couldn’t hurt the bottom line.

And if the tape is real, it’s going to rake in some serious cabbage. Maybe it’s time to ask if Larry Flynt is hiring.

Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting June 7. Speakers include Abigail Cusick (Bravo Digital), Gregory Galant (Sawhorse Media), Alex Leo (Thomson Reuters Digital), Jim Tobin (Ignite Social Media), and many more. Read the reviews.