Posted on 01/31/2006 8:18:28 AM PST by SirLinksalot
Clay Aiken and ClayNation Undergo New Round of Attacks
by James Shepherd (2006/01/28)
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There is nothing like a National Enquirer article to start a new tempest within the ClayNation. This is not the first time that the Enquirer has "picked on" Clay Aiken, but then, the Enquirer and other tabloids like to center on true celebrities because this is what gains them higher readership. Since Clay Aiken is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting and successful recording artists to have come out of American Idol, you really can not blame the Enquirer for doing its job well.
I am sure that the Enquirer paid John Paulus a reasonable sum for the story as to how he and Aiken had a night of passionate gay sex in Raleigh North Carolina. But considering that the given evening in question, Clay Aiken was in New York City, it's unfortunate that the Enquirer did not pick up on the real extraordinary nature of this story in that Clay Aiken is capable of being in two places at the same time. This is a feat that even the most adept yoga masters have difficulty doing.
You know, these tabloids pay a good fee for a good story, and this incident has almost inspired me to supplement my income by selling stories to them with the following headlines: "Fantasia Barrino Is The Love Child of Randy Jackson," or how about "Carrie Underwood Is A Space Alien." Of course, the problem with such headlines is that these stories just wouldn't interest the public as much as one about Clay Aiken, even though my proposed story about Carrie might be more believable than this current story about Clay. The tabloids don't seem really interested in stories about American Idol winners, but they are interested in Clay Aiken stories, and Clay was just a runner-up. Why?
In an interview recently with Nigel Lythgoe, a chief producer of American Idol, he was asked why the voting results aren't published on a weekly basis during the Idol competitions. In his response he said that this is not done because people might not vote because they might be discouraged when one contestant was leading by so much. The example he gave was Season 2: "If you knew, for instance, that Clay Aiken was so far ahead every week, it would be a waste of time watching. You wouldn't vote for anybody else because you would think, well, he's never going to win; no one else is going to win. He [Clay] is so far ahead of the game."
Amazingly enough, even though Clay was apparently so far ahead of every contestant each week on American Idol 2, he still lost in the last week. Given this background, it's not surprising that RCA, which has direct business links with the AI producers, launched Clay's debut CD with double platinum status even before it hit the stores. They knew that he had a much larger fan base than any other contestant, including the winner. Not one AI winner has had their debut CD launched in such a way, so far. Needless to say, Clay has been a target of several smear campaigns originating from other Idol fan bases due to their intense jealousy. So what is happening now to Clay Aiken is really nothing new, but it is somewhat more vicious than usual.
Carrie Underwood is the first AI winner who has come very close to matching Aiken's debut CD sales. For a few weeks she actually exceeded his sales, but by the 10th week in comparing sales, Clay still has an edge. However, maybe this is not a fair comparison since Carrie is a space alien - errr... allegedly?
A prominent leader from one of the early underground Claymates smear campaigns, in all her gloating glory, when confronted as to whether she had a part in this recent smear campaign, admitted to a campaign three years ago concerning music critics, but denied any involvement in this recent one: "Our job was done THREE YEARS AGO! Have you got that yet dumb ass? THREE YEARS AGO. Now the media knows the crazy ass bitches they are dealing with! YOU ASKED FOR IT, DEAL with it now...What we did THREE YEARS AGO pissed you up because you treated us as if we were all these dumb assess that are not smart and can't do **** to you. GUESS WHAT? WE DID and we got you GOOD and you HATED IT, will HATE it and will never forget it right? Well BOO ******* HOO if SOMEONE else is doing whatever you think is being done."
I think we can be assured that anyone running a clandestine smear campaign against Clay Aiken and his fans three years ago, would not be involved in one now. They had to move headquarters some time ago when I published this little article about them. I also witnessed, first hand, how they dealt with music critics since I was a recipient of emails from them when I was in the role as a music critic. Although they claim honesty, their actions speak otherwise.
In the past, the concentration was trying to damage Clay Aiken's fan base by sometimes posing as Claymates, because it is Clay's fans that made him the star that he is. Aiken is known by his large, loyal and protective fan base. This recent smear is going straight to Clay's person. Although, even now, a friend of the source of the recent National Enquirer is claiming that death threats are coming from Claymates. Is this really happening, and if it is, from whom? Who knows, maybe if the authorities start to investigate accusations that are criminal in nature, some interesting things will be revealed.
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James Shepherd is the Editor of Beavers On Idol.
Clay Aiken is gay? What next, Richard Simmons? Nathan Lane?
Boy you couldn't have seen that coming.
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