Lowe Profile

In the wake of all that negative sex video publicity, Rob Lowe has hired one of Hollywood’s biggest and most influential P.R. firms. At first, PMK told us its involvement with the pretty-boy star was routine, connected to Lowe’s next film, the ironically titled “Bad Influence.” But when we pressed, a spokeswoman admitted, “In this certain situation (his current notoriety), he needed a liaison for the numerous press requests that are coming in.”

So what’s the Lowe-down? “What I say to people when they call is that he doesn’t have a comment and he won’t have a comment until the matter is resolved,” she said.

The rep stressed that this is not PMK’s first teaming with Lowe. “We’ve handled him in the past. Usually when he’s got a film upcoming. So this is not a big deal.” PMK is also handling publicity for “Bad Influence” producer Steve Tisch. “Since he’s producing Rob’s next film, it’s pretty natural for him to come to us.”

“Bad” goes before the cameras in late June (James Spader co-stars, Curtis Hanson directs). Through PMK, screenwriter David Koepp said that Lowe will portray a handsome but manipulative cad--”one of those guys who your friends tell you to stay away from, but you don’t want to because he’s so much fun.”

It’s undecided if Lowe will do any press during the shoot, “but he is absolutely not doing any talking about his personal situation until it is resolved,” said the rep.

In the meantime, she sighed, “I’m spending my life on the phone, taking calls about Rob.”