Celebrity Publicist Domenick Nati Talks Honoring Faith in Hollywood; Receiving Prophecy About DMX
The showbiz industry is renowned for its seedy nature which can often lead to assumptions about those in the business. Publicist to the stars, Domenick Louis Nati Jr, prides himself on upholding his faith in the industry and he recently opened up about some of the challenges he faces as a Hollywood publicist in an exclusive interview with The Christian Post.
Whether it's musicians or actors, a growing number of celebrities today continue to push boundaries in a bid to sell which some critics argue is proof of the "sleazy" entertainment industry. Nati, who represents stars like "Real Housewives of New York's" Sonja Morgan and rapper DMX, spoke about finding the courage to honor his religious beliefs in an industry that doesn't always make it easy to do so.
"You've got to be really strong," Nati told the Christian Post exclusively about working as a celebrity publicist. "You have to have a strong will because at the end of the day you're gonna have to talk to God and you've got to go home to your [family]."
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Nati, 35, grew up in Buffalo, New York and was the son of a pastor. After working in television and film for several years, he moved into public relations before launching his Nati Celebrity Services company in 2006. He attended the Brownsville Revival, Bethel Church and the Jesus Culture youth ministry.
"I didn't become a Christian until I was 21 so even though my Dad was a pastor I didn't really commit my life to God until I was 21," he said.
The married father of one often faces the challenge of trying to be a "successful" businessman without compromising his religious beliefs.
"I've lost people because they wanted to promote homosexuality and things that I'm just not comfortable promoting ... I have gay clients and stuff and that's fine," Nati explained. "If I'm not truly behind your message it's going to probably come across in how I promote it ... like the other day someone that I'm working for has someone close to him that wants to get in the porn industry. Morally I would just not want to promote that."
Nati, who has previously worked with the likes of actor Boris Kodjoe and hip hop producer Warren G among others, acknowledged that while it is possible to reject a potential client based on moral conflict, it is not always easy.
"I try to be really honest with people [but] Im not really supposed to say 'morally my company can't do that,'" he said before likening this dilemma to that of fast food chain Chick-fil-A.
"They don't not serve gay customers but if you'd like to know [the President's] personal view he doesn't think that it's right," he said. "That's the same thing with [my] gay clients, I don't dislike them or anything but my job is to promote what they're doing as far as their business [and] career."
On the flip side, Nati's faith has helped land him clients which was the case with DMX, otherwise known as Earl Simmons.
In 2010, before the pair had even met, Nati received what he describes as a message from God for DMX while sitting at home watching a VH1 TV special on the "Party Up (Up In Here)" rapper's life.
"God started to speak to me and He told me that Im going to teach him how to receive love," Nati, who was only working with athletes at the time, explained. "I thought, not only do I not know this man [but] I work with athletes, I dont see how I could tell him that."
At the time DMX was serving time behind bars, but as fate would have it, a year later the pair would unexpectedly meet through a mutual contact and go on to work together.
"It was just powerful that when I told him what God told me to say it just got quiet, I had no idea how this was gonna go," he recounted.
After a few minutes of silence, DMX responded to Nati's message by saying 'now I know that Im supposed to work with you and the respect I have for you just increased … I got chills right now with you talking.'"
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