While this whole "contact the media" business was certainly somewhat tasteless, was its crudeness really the reason the new understudy was forbidden to do it? I can't help but think we're dealing with an unbelievably talented star who had/has unbelievably major insecurity.
And, flash foward 53 years, is this a similar reason that the producer of the biggest hit of the year is successfully doing everything--despite critics reviewing the other actress--to not promote the standby who does go every week for another unbelievably talented star?