From a hilarious confrontation with Kris Jenner to a bizarre publicity stunt involving Mila Kunis and a stolen chicken, Hollywood publicist Zack Teperman has accumulated plenty of stories throughout his career. Appearing on actor Michael Fishman’s podcast, Fish’s Call Sheet, the ZTPR president opened up about celebrity egos, crisis management, rebuilding fallen stars’ careers, and the realities of an entertainment industry where one mistake can change everything.
The longtime friends, who have worked together on red carpets, charitable initiatives and entertainment projects, wasted little time getting into Hollywood gossip.
Teperman recalled working with a celebrity (noted as just Christopher) at the Cinema Audio Society Awards who repeatedly dismissed his assistance, telling him not to speak and refusing even to let him hold a door. He also recounted an encounter with his former broadcasting idol, Ryan Seacrest, while preparing for the Oscars. According to Teperman, after approaching Seacrest simply to express his admiration back when he was just an on-air personality himself, the television personality responded, “Get away from me, kid.”
Not every Hollywood encounter left a bitter impression. Teperman fondly remembered Harrison Ford carrying breadsticks in his jacket at an event, offering him something to eat and privately thanking him for his work. He also recalled Martin Sheen insisting that their car pull over on the way to a Spider-Man premiere so he could support a group of protesters, despite the possibility of arriving late.
Then came his first taste of working with the Kardashians.
During Los Angeles Fashion Week, before launching his own PR agency, Teperman got his chance to work with Kris Jenner and her kids. At the time, Kendall and Kylie Jenner were still relatively unknown and had been paid by to wear dresses from his client’s fashion line. While the sisters posed for photographers, Teperman realized the cameras wanted their mother on the red carpet, too. When Kris initially declined, he jokingly abandoned the usual Hollywood pleasantries and bluntly told her, “Kris, get the f*** out there!” Rather than taking offense, Jenner loved his unfiltered personality and the two shared a laugh over the exchange. Looking back, Teperman joked that his famously blunt approach might not always be the most diplomatic way to handle things, but sometimes a little personality makes for a far more memorable encounter.
Beyond celebrity encounters, the conversation explored the unusual lengths publicists sometimes go to generate headlines.
One particularly outrageous example involved Ukrainian entertainer Kristina Karo, who approached Teperman demanding fame within 30 days. His solution was an elaborate publicity stunt built around an allegation that Mila Kunis had stolen Karo’s pet chicken, named Doggy, during their childhood in Ukraine.
Teperman explained that he coordinated with Kunis’s publicity team before filing a $5,000 lawsuit alleging emotional distress. Major media outlets subsequently covered the story, while Ashton Kutcher filmed a humorous video confronting Kunis about the supposed theft.
The stunt generated widespread attention, interviews and interest in Karo’s music. According to Teperman, she eventually landed a Las Vegas performance opportunity before disappearing from his professional life.
The experience illustrated an important distinction in his approach to publicity: generating attention is relatively straightforward, but sustaining it requires a long-term strategy.
That philosophy also informs his work at ZTPR. After beginning his career as a Canadian radio personality interviewing celebrities at major Hollywood events, Teperman transitioned into publicity following an opportunity connected to the Toronto International Film Festival. He eventually started his own firm in 2014 after working for another that included the likes of Hollywood stars like the late Naya Rivera of Glee and Martin Sheen, expanding its focus beyond entertainment to encompass fashion, hospitality and consumer brands.
His strategy involves developing multiple aspects of a client’s public identity rather than relying exclusively on their professional accomplishments.
He also challenged the expectation that inexperienced clients can immediately secure appearances on major television programs or prominent magazine covers. Building credibility, he explained, requires smaller interviews, consistent messaging and a demonstrable history that gives larger outlets confidence in a potential guest.
However, the business has a considerably darker side.
Teperman described receiving desperate late-night calls from clients experiencing serious personal crises, explaining that publicists frequently become trusted confidants whose responsibilities extend far beyond arranging interviews and managing appearances.
He also discussed helping Shaun Weiss, known for portraying Goldberg in The Mighty Ducks, rebuild his professional life following struggles with addiction and homelessness. By connecting Weiss with corporate opportunities, Teperman helped him return to the ice for a commercial project while supporting his broader efforts to share his experiences and help others.
Fishman, who trained alongside members of The Mighty Ducks cast, emphasized the importance of remembering the human beings behind sensational celebrity headlines.
The discussion naturally extended to philanthropy. During the pandemic, the pair collaborated to distribute approximately 500,000 face masks to vulnerable communities, including unhoused individuals, children and families. Both questioned the growing tendency to turn charitable activities into social media content, particularly when vulnerable recipients have not agreed to participate.
For Teperman, authenticity matters just as much in his personal life.
The divorced father explained that he deliberately keeps Fridays free to spend time with his daughter, who previously appeared on Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful as a baby. Despite managing a demanding business, he regularly includes her in his travels and professional activities, believing that childhood memories matter more than professional achievements.
Fishman, who recently became a grandfather, shared similar sentiments about parenthood and the importance of passing meaningful experiences between generations.
Their conversation ultimately returned to the question of what constitutes success in an industry frequently preoccupied with money, fame and public recognition. “Success is when you can go to bed at the end of the day and you’re happy and satisfied with where you’re at,” Teperman explained. As for the legacy he hopes to leave behind, his answer had little to do with celebrity clients or headline-making campaigns. “That I showed up, that I was there,” he said, emphasizing his desire to make every moment with his loved ones count.
For a publicist who has spent much of his career managing other people’s stories, it was a fitting reminder that the most meaningful one may be his own. Listen and watch the full episode here.
