It would appear that this cartoon is a perfect illustration of how Clay’s life has been unfolding over the last 18 months. Seems that no matter what he does or doesn’t do, no matter what choices he makes or doesn’t make and no matter how the public at large hears it, he always seems to make the WRONG decision for his life or career. When those times occur there is an ever-ready posse of folks poised to help make the situation worse – some are “fans” and others are “foes.”
Can’t this poor soul catch a break? Is this what reality TV has done to the average Joe?
Since Clay burst on to the scene in American Idol 2, he has been one of those performers who seems to polarize individuals – in other words, one their loves him or hates him with no in between. As with all things, zealots live at the extremes of these feelings towards him, using their version of the “facts” to support their positions. Just what ARE the facts about Clay Aiken that get folks all shook up?
Here are some “facts” as we know them -
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Name: Clayton Holmes Aiken |
Age: 28 |
Hometown: Raleigh, NC |
Education: Graduate of UNC-Charlotte w/degree in Special Education |
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Claim to fame: Runner-up American Idol 2 |
Recording Credits: This is the Night/Bridge Over Troubled Waters Measure of a Man Solitaire/The Way Merry Christmas with Love All is Well: Holiday Extras A Thousand Different Ways
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Solo Tours: Independent (w/Kelly Clarkson) Not-a Tour Joyful Noise 1 Jukebox Joyful Noise 2 Holiday w/Orchestra Soft Rock/Hard Place |
Philanthropic Endeavors: The Buble/Aiken Foundations – co-founder and Chairman of the Board UNICEF Ambassador for Education Presidential Committee for Disabilities |
All of the above are documented and indisputable (there are more facts but these are enough to make a point). What frosts my cupcakes, however, is when other things that are passed off as facts really aren’t — yet folks believe them as if they were gospel.
Things like:
Clay initiates fight with woman on airplane
Clay is gay and we have a washcloth to prove it
Clay’s charity is mismanaged
Clay has a love child he is not supporting
Clay never shows up for meetings of the presidential commission of which he is a member
My Google alerts are filled with such drivel and after awhile I start to get angry and wonder when all this foolishness will stop. I want to know just what Clay represent or embodies that brings out such polar emotions in people. I haven’t got a clue.
While I continue to ponder the above conundrum, let’s take a look at the two extremes that are a constant source of concern for Our Man Clay:
The Clay Haters
This group is made up of both former fans who no longer “drink the Kool-aid” (their favorite expression) that keeps them delusional towards him or those who were never fans in the first place or fans of other idols. The basic bottom line is that they have some kind of “beef” with Clay that they just can’t or won’t let go of. They seem to have taken up residence on a number of message boards and have developed a Community of Hate, communicating to anyone who reads them their gospel that Clay is “fake,” that he is not who he appears to be, and that all who believe he is or defend him in any way are they themselves targets for the same type of ridicule and slander.
My question is:
Who died and left them to play God?
No one has the right to make themselves judge and jury over someone else’s existence. If you “fall out of like” with a celebrity, or anyone for that matter, you are free to walk away and let them go their merry way. Continuing to churn up the waters until they get total satisfaction that they are in the right or just plain old revenge is morally wrong. Period. However, our society today is so devoid of moral standards and simple social graces that this type of behavior is not only condoned but encouraged by wrapping itself in the flag of “free speech.” Gimme a break. I get it that you don’t like Clay – just let it go and move on. You must have other things in your life to obsess on. He’s just not worth it and, frankly, doesn’t deserve it no matter what he’s allegedly done.
The Rabid Claymates
This group is comprised of the most zealous and, sometimes, overly lustful group of Clay fans in the Clay Nation whose sole purpose in life, it seems, is to promote, protect and endlessly photograph Mr. Aiken. They will join any website to vote for Clay, trash any writer who makes Clay look bad in the press or online and record every nanosecond of his life on and off stage. They probably mean well but their actions are stalker-ish and their devotion is off the charts. The way they attack others, even those who ARE fans, is mean and selfish. Clay appears to “egg them on” and that only makes matters worse. If they were in the Star Trek universe they would be known as the BORG.
My question is:
Who appointed them Clay’s collective Mommy?
May I be frank here? These women are NUTS! I can’t wrap my mind around the way these women think and I have been a devoted fan of one Mister Barry Manilow for thirty two years and have NEVER behaved the way these gals do. Most of them are old enough to be Clay’s mother (eeewww) and the others don’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of ever getting any real time with him. To help prove my point, check out this article that came across my path recently:
Published: Thursday, August 2, 2007 Nashua Telegraph (NH)
Fans protective of star
I’m a Clay Aiken fan. But I know now, I’m by far not the biggest Clay Aiken fan.
My sister, three friends and I bought our tickets for the Clay Aiken concert in Meadowbrook months before we learned the Nashua Symphony Orchestra was playing with him. But when I found out the NSO was playing, I thought it would be a great idea to tell our readers about our hometown symphony playing with a world-famous pop star. OK, that’s half the truth. I was hoping that doing the story would also lead me to meet Clay. Yes, Clay face time. That’s what I was hoping for, and I was so close.
Alas! It was not to be. For a series of reasons that are way too pedestrian to list, I not only didn’t get to meet Clay, I didn’t even get to see the orchestra rehearse. What I did get was permission to take photographs at the foot of the stage for the first two songs of the concerts.
It wasn’t face time, but I would get to take a few photos for the newspaper, as well as have six minutes to get an upfront and underneath view of Clay’s remarkably long and remarkably blond eyelashes.
I, along with real photographers with real cameras, positioned ourselves in front of the stage and readied ourselves for Clay’s and, of course, the Nashua Symphony Orchestra’s appearance.
Meadowbrook’s videographer warned me that when the music started, the fans in the front row would do their best to get us to sit down. I was prepared for some snaky remarks. But I was not prepared for the army of gray-haired women who found it their duty to tell me and the others with cameras not once, not twice, but perhaps 20 times that “the flash hurts Clay’s eyes.”
For a second, I thought of asking them how they know this. I’ve been on Claymate sites. I have been to four Clay Aiken concerts. I didn’t know his eyes hurt. But these women who looked like maniacal grandmothers (I swear one of them had a rolling pin in her hand) fancied themselves Clay’s personal protectors.
Far be it from me to hurt Clayton’s baby blues. I turned off my flash but somehow that didn’t assuage these women, who admonished, “That’s quite enough” after we took three photographs.
The concert was great. The orchestra was great. But I was so freaked out by the Fake Clay Mommies that I didn’t even get time to admire Clay’s eyelashes.
I happened to be at this concert and I know who these women are, too — they are the same ones I spy sitting in the front rows of EVERY concert I have attended for the last 4 years (and that would be NINE total). Not wanting to get into how much money they are wasting spending on attending multiple concerts of the same tour ( I recently counted that one women had video taped 10 of his last 13 shows on this tour alone) or how much “clack” they view on a daily basis, I am ashamed for them that they could treat others they way they treated this fan in the above article. Just today it was brought to my attention that they are now going after a “negative” reviewer whose mother is an active Claymate because he didn’t say what they wanted to hear. I’ll use that article in my final installment but I can tell you that what he wrote had a lot of truth in it (I read the article) and in my experience, Claymates “can’t handle the truth.”
If Clay is who he says he is (and I have no reason yet to believe anything different) then he would not approve or condone this type of treatment, especially when done in his name. But then he’ll make comments about having his Claymates beat up people and I want to shake him because some of these gals actually BELIEVE him and feel justified to go out and “obey” the master. This type of fan is NOT , repeat – NOT helping Clay, except to get him more negative press than he needs. They are terrorizing other fans, causing legitimate writers to either pander to them or use Clay as a whipping boy to get hits and making people in the music business look down on Clay even more. They, as the “haters” they detest, need to be muzzled and their power taken away. In my next installment I will give my opinion on how that could be achieved.
Now, I fully expect to have a target on my back with these two extremes and I guess I’m ready for the fallout. But, remember, it’s MY OPINION and MY BLOG and if you don’t like it, then don’t read it and spread it around. It’s that simple.
Carry on…but be nice about it…
J
You started out your Blog very well, but unfortunately you slid into the whole stereotype thing again. Yes, Clay has Mature Fans, but he also has lots of younger fans too. If you go go any Concert you will see a real mix of ages. But even if his fans were older, what’s wrong with that? Do you suddenly have to crawl in a cave when you are 40?
I am sure if you look at the Fan Bases of other Artists you will see that they have lots of older fans too.
Idol is a different animal, it makes fans vote and do things to promote their “Idol”. It is just that Clay has a large and passionate Fan Base. Clay has been picked on by the Media, other Fan Bases, and Bloggers since Idol. I have read articles where the Writer has said that they get hate mail if they say anything negative about any Idol. This phenomenon is not isolated to Clay only.
Clay Fans have cooled it though. You will rarely see us post in the Comment Sections-and if we do it is a polite response. I did not give up my right to state my views when I became a Clay Fan. Stating my views is not acting like a “Mommy”. Clay is a grown man and can take care of himself. But I am well within my rights to state a personal opinion, without being accused of infantilizing him.
Fanilows not intense? You’ve got to be kidding, right?
For the record –
1) I am over 40 (closer to 50, I’m afraid) and a Clay fan who is sick and tired of watching the games played by BOTH of ends of the Aiken spectrum.
2) I never said that Fanilows were immune from rabid behavior – just that I’ve witnessed first hand more from the Claymates.
3) You have every right to state your personal opinion but I must disagree with your statement that Claymates have “cooled it” – they have been attacking the writer from the OC Register since his article came out on Sunday so has anything really changed as you say? I think not.
I appreciate your comments and I thank you for the exchange.
“they have been attacking the writer from the OC Register since his article came out on Sunday so has anything really changed as you say”
Because many of us personally know Candy and know she was hurt. This was not the first time he has used her in this way in an article. Many of us have also met Ben. She is one of the sweetest woman you will ever meet and she was unfairly made fun of in the article and his previous article.
As far as the Writer from New Hampshire. It was announced multiple times before the Concert that there was to be no flashes. She was asked politely several times not to use the flash and she still continued. It wasn’t just that she took a few pictures, she was non-stop taking pictures for the first three songs. Even Clay on stage was shaking his head over it to his Background Singers. Using the flash that close is very dangerous to the Performers on stage. Yes, some people got upset after she was asked nicely several times to stop. But it wasn’t quite as bad as she writes.
Funny that as a Clay Fan you don’t know these things.
Since I don’t follow all the working of the Clay Nation “inner sanctum” I don’t know any of the back story between Candy and Ben. All I know is that I read the article and didn’t sense that he was out of line with what he was saying about his mother. You cannot deny that the response, however, is typical Claymate behavior – get as many as possible to flood the site with emails of displeasure to take down the reputation of the writer.
As for the NH incident – were you there? I was and I saw what happened. There were a few flashes down front at the very beginning of the concert but then they stopped. I could see that something was not quite right with the photographers and I think Clay may have seen it also and was shaking his head about all the commotion. Since I wasn’t close enough to hear the whole exchange, I can’t quote anyone.
However, as a Clay Fan I DO know about the flashes and about the buses and about a zillion other things that happen at a concert so don’t assume I am any less a fan than you are.
Funny how your exchange is now leaning toward the behavior I have been talking about. Sorry, I call it as I see it.
I was there too, I believe there’s Video of Quiana asking her to stop flashing as well, the writer was just as at fault as anyone else, there was no reason to use a flash. IMO. A minor problem that SHE decided to air in a public way.
I do understand your blog, and I believe you have some valid points however there are Extreme fans on both sides. I also have a problem with judgmental fans, belittling other fans as though they are above other fans. I think this blog is as bad as “Claymates” as you refer to them, pushing others and overreacting IMO. a FAN IS A FAN , who are we to judge how others enjoy their fandom. whether it be at a concert or writing blogs about other fans.
I wish folks would stop focusing in the flashes and see the entire entry for what it is – a plea to both sides to “curb their enthusiasm” and let Clay be Clay. But this is how both sides act and react so what I expected is coming to fruition, I’m afraid.
The truth is never pretty, nor does it go down well at times and this is one of them. However, it is way past time that the average Clay fan stands up for all those in the middle of these two extremes and say that enough is enough. It appears that every other time someone has tried to be the “voice of reason” one side or the other has been able to “run them out of Dodge.” Well, I have nothing to win or lose by saying by peace and neither side has any power over me that I don’t give them.
So, remember, it’s my blog and I can rant if I want to!
Carry on!
Yup, you can rant, no problem there. But IMO it will change nothing. I have read many of your blogs, (on your other site as well) I just think continually poining out what’s wrong with other people is wrong, unless you and your behavior is perfect, it’s irrelevant. I’ve seen worse at non-Clay concerts, as I said before you edited my post, If this is the worst that happenned to her at a concert which was the fault of both her and the fans she was in front of, She needed to just shut up, What was the real motive behind that blog? was it neccessary to write it? what was it’s purpose? she had written a review on it’s own. there was no reason to other than to re-hash her “beef” with the fans whom were upset with her. and with good reason.
thanks for an interesting discussion though.
As I said I do agree with you..sometimes, (in other blogs) I just think “judging others lest ye be judged yourself ” holds true. Opinions vary as to what happened, it always does.
Jess,
well, now that you’ve judged me what else is there to say? You would rather cuss me out for my behavior than to see and deal with the real issue – Clay’s career is at a dangerous crossroad and both fans and foes alike are “helping” him in negative ways. That is the REAL motivation behind this series – to help others see their destructive behavior for what it is and curb it in an attempt to let Clay be Clay. I have no stake in anything here except to be a responsible human being. Keeping one’s mouth shut when something can be said is very politically correct these days but is morally irresponsible since we are all our “brother’s or sister’s keeper.” I used both articles in my blog because they were timely examples to back up my claims – no other “agenda” than that.
Since you obviously don’t agree with me on this, let’s just agree to disagree and leave it at that.
A very “imperfect” but loved J.
a dangerous crossroads? seriously? I think you are putting too much importance on Clay’s fans. ( I never cussed at you. Holy moly are you defensive.)
You said “to help others see their destructive behavior for what it is and curb it in an attempt to let Clay be Clay” WOW, Help them? I ask you will it change anything? for the most part Fans will read this blog and say ” Oh good lord” and leave it at that. And I believe you are being just as destructive judging them……and darn it if I’m judging you too. you are right, I made a comment to you, did it change how you felt? will you change how you blog? I doubt it. Would a Fannilow stop a certain behavior because you didn’t like it and blogged about it? not likely. I agree sometimes fan behavior is embarassing but I find it NO DIFFERENT than any other fanbase, it’s merely publicised more.
But I don’t blog about Clay and his DESRTRUCTIVE fans. How about Kelly’s destructive fan base. They turned me away from her,yet she’s not judged by what her fans do, why should Clay? The OC blog is no different from what has happened if Kelly gets a bad review.
do you really think you are helping Clay? Try this, Buy his albums…Go to concerts. aside from that, there is no way you can change the fans to act how you want them to. no One can. I think the glowstick lights are cheezy. do you think if I blog about it it will stop? maybe if I rant about it people will listen to me and realize ” hey, it is cheezy!” and stop? nope, not wasting my time.
Darn it, don’t you just keep on making my point!
For the sake of setting keeping it real, Part 2 of this series is MORE than just the “rabid” fans making Clay’s life miserable yet that’s the only part you see. I’ll admit the article didn’t seem to help matters but take a look at all three parts (the third will be out sometime this weekend) and THEN tell me if I’m being overly judgmental or not. I’m trying to be fair yet honest.
I’m very glad Barry didn’t have the Internet when he was first starting out or things might have gone a lot differently for him. The availability of instant information and being able to track a celebrity’s every move (yesterday’s pictures of Clay, for example) is just not fair. My comments may not change anything but they may make a person stop and think for a moment – and THAT’s how change begins.
PS…
“cuss” was the wrong word – “chew me out” is more applicable.
I’m sorry if my tone seems to be “chew you out” it really isn’t. I’m not angry at all. I’m quite amused actually, and curious.
I am just wondering if it really will change anything? pessimist in me I guess.
I have read several of your previous blogs and it seems that you would rather point out all that is wrong with Clay, the fans, his concerts/set lists, his Barry is crap comment. Is there nothing he does right? do his fans do nothing right. Pointing out what’s wrong with the fandom would only work if it were compared to what’s right with it. JMO
You commented about the picture of Clay taken yesterday, …or the “FAT” Clay pictures circulating on the net right now. Would any of the crap surrounding Clay stop? People trash Clay and his fans anyway …it’s the downside of celeberity. fans get defensive, protective etc. we all do. some more than others. I dislike reading all the blogs now popping up saying Clay is fat based on tour pictures. if it’s not one thing it’s another. I would be happier if they would balance out with some good Clay stuff, but for some reason those are few and far between.
Thanks for putting up with my comments thus far. I’m raelly not trying to chew you out, just commenting.I am the only one commenting though.
Jess,
I think everyone is just watching us debate because my blog stats have been high during this exchange. That’s not bad during the down time of IDOL but I would sure appreciate more input from others – maybe there is something both of us are missing!
Since you’ve read my other entries on other sites you know who I am in the Clay Nation. Feel free to search me on the fan sites because you’ll find that I’ve had a lot of GOOD to say to and about Clay (I tend to address him directly, like he’d ever read my stuff). One thing I have been consistent about is my honesty – good or bad I’ll be honest in my assessments and that usually gets me misunderstood by some, if not most.
I only want the best for Clay and I’ve said that many, many times but I won’t swallow the “Clay is never wrong” pill. He sounded great at Meadowbrook and I said that but when he is not sounding good I say that as well, and always with a way to make it better (I’m a musician and a singer). I’m not doing it simply to sharpen my critiquing skills – I really think the kid is talented but not focused and that frustrates me to no end.
Since Team Clay is Internet savvy, maybe someone does listen and take some things to heart. I’ll never really know but if I can bring about something GOOD for Clay then that’s fine by me.
Ok, gang – anyone else out there care to comment on this? Just play nice…
well, I would enjoy another poster or two but…until then…
Heh, I don’t buy the Clay is never wrong pill either, but I do see thing a little differently than you do.
I don’t neccessarily see an Unfocused Clay, but more as someone who has run into a bit of a wall in regards as what He wants to do. I also don’t see Jaymes as a particularly good thing in his career either but that is a whole other can of worms. I sense from this tour, not that he’s unfocused but that he really doesn’t care for the material he’s been given/using/chosen, but at this time in his career it’s what he has to work with. Talking/joking in the middle of the song seems to be, not a lack of focus but just not caring about the song. The songs he really seems to sell the performance in are “Open Arms” which is one song he says he likes, Without you is another he really works at. and the medleys are totally his idea, and the only fun he seems to be having in this show. corny or not, it’s in the show for his own enjoyment, not neccessarily anyone elses.
As to telling it like it is, I’d be willing to bet Clay would the first to agree with you, I tend to think he knows when he sounds bad, and probably beats himself up about those times more than anyone. His self-effacing humour also seems to border on being too hard on himself. ( I’m told I have that problem myself. and in colledge the tests I took tell me the same, i guess it’s what I project onto him.) As to the fans enabling him to be sub-standard….they also enable him to keep going, long enough to get another chance at an album that measures up to his talent. That’s what I’m waiting to see. ( this is coming from someone who HAAAAAAAAATED ATDW)
What you describe is what happens in every fan “community”. Substitute any singers name for Clay’s, then visit that singers fan websites and message boards and everything will be the same.
Obsession is obsession is obsession is obsession…..
The touble with Clay Aiken doesn’t seem to have much to do with Clay Aiken. It seems to have alot more to do with those obsessed with him. I mean both those who hate too much and those who love too much. To those who love him a little more than necessary,back off just a little bit. Just a bit. Breathing room is good for everyone. I love him too, and I would love to go to more than 1 concert but its not always possible. I would also love to get seats right up front just once. But it doesn’t seem to be in the cards anytime soon. Those of you who harbor an unusual and bizarre hatred of the man seem to have issues I cant even comprehend. How on earth can you devote so much time and energy just trying to destroy a person. If you dont like the man, he isn’t what you want him to be , move on. What a complete waste of time. I hope that all the crap doesn’t get to be too much for the guy(it would have for me) and he decides its not worth it to continue in the public eye. It’s all getting a little old now, don’t you think? I want nothing but the best for Clay, can’t help but love the guy.
Until we Clay fans start to recognize that not everything Clay is “BLACK or WHITE” then we will have to debate these extremes! Nothing “always” happens one way or another, most times there is a lot of behavior, comments, fans, critics, etc. that fall in the middle of “BLACK or WHITE”!!!
I think it is high times the fans start to focus on the “GRAY AREA” which is where most of us exist anyway! Come on in, the water is fine!