I don't think you know what you are talking about.

If no one wants to hire a felon to do some kind of entry level job, how about a felon being followed around by the paparazzi (or otherwise very much in the public eye)? Does that sound better to an employer?

I seriously doubt it.

Because paparazzi and other journalist have such a long attention span concerning "human interest" stories about ordinary persons.

A former felon with tons of press about his innocence is psychologically much less risky of a hire than a former felon without a ton of positive press(about perseverance, forgiveness, positive attitude etc.)

A ton of positive press and publicity for the sake of making a buck are potentially at odds. Lurid stories tend to sell better than feel good ones.

If the goal is publicity to make a buck, that may well undermine him getting a normal job at all. It is entirely possible that (once you start down that path) the outcome will be that he has no real choice but to continue telling his lurid tale as the only means he has to put food on the table, like it or not.