Clay Aiken: In His Own Words

In the video posted here, you will hear Clay Aiken state to David Foster that he is "not competitive".

Oh, really? Wasn't it Clay who almost immediately after losing AI2 to Ruben Studdard, challenged Ruben to see who would "win" on the charts?

That was an incredibly competitive attitude to take.

When Clay blogged shortly before ATDW was released, here is what he said:

"It's quite a big day in the music world actually.
Kenny Chesney, Monica, Elton John, Chingy, Fergie.. and US!
We all have an album out that week. lots of "competition" if you want to look at it that way.
Plus, blockbusters from John Mayer and Justin Timberlake will still be riding high from release a week before.
Heck... i'm gonna have to go by 50 or so myself just to chart!
I'm sure we'll do fine. All will be thanks to you!"

He seemed pretty concerned about the "competition" for a guy who by his own description is not "competitive".

People who have known Clay from the days before AI have described him as always being highly competitive, to the point of throwing temper tantrums when he was not cast in roles he felt he deserved.

Clay could be perceived as being a bit hypocritical. "If you want to look at it that way".

Clay Aiken. In his own words.

Putting your money where your mouth is

A few days ago I read a post that was brought in here from one of Clay’s websites (I believe it was the CB). I really struck me, not only by its ignorance, but by its stereotypical tone. The poster angrily related how urban artists are more inclined to acquire “bling bling” instead of spending it on a needy child. I’m paraphrasing of course, but that was the basic message. Even though I wasn’t surprised by her statement, I still couldn’t believe her ignorant view and couldn’t stop shaking my head in disbelief. Her point was to compare Clay’s “charitable ways” or “caring” attitude against urban artists. They sure can find competition in EVERYTHING Clay related, don’t they?

Mentioning Clay’s foundation, the UNICEF and/or Presidential Whatever position he holds, it seems it’s mandatory in any writing originated by a Claymate. A critic’s mention of how bad his CD is, a DJ refusing to play his music, a magazine not liking his new look, anything negative reported and invariably they will be reminded of how great a humanitarian he is, caring, inclusive and someone even dared describe him as a philanthropist!! After reading the mentioned post I began recalling articles from magazines and MTV programs featuring urban artists which show a totally different side of their public personas. Much of their community work is done behind doors or cameras as they’re not looking for a photo op. They do it because they really care and see it as a way to give back to the community which supports them. One such artist is Ludacris. Yes, the same one Bill O’Reilly went after when PEPSI signed a multimillion dollar deal with him to be their spokesperson, but I will touch on that outcome later on.

In order to help this lady about offering facts on anyone, she needs to be schooled on the importance of fact checking before embarrassing herself. I got the idea of featuring one artist and do a comparative analysis if you will, on the works these urban artists are involved with in comparison to Mr. Clay Aiken’s work. As a disclaimer I have to explain that I’m not in any way, shape or form an expert on charitable organizations or foundations. My view is strictly coming from my own standpoint.

There’s a great amount of information on Ludacris and his foundation, but I will try to condense it as much as possible. The Ludacris Foundation was created back in 2001 and it’s centered in Atlanta, but has also helped out in places like NY, Miami, Washington, D.C. and Chicago. His foundation according to Ludacris, “is an organization that’s geared toward helping kids help themselves”. He also added that they take on different projects and are not held to just one thing.
Ludacris is believed to have “one of the kindest hearts in the business when it comes to his fans” (Tamara Palmer, Country Fried Soul: Adventures in Dirty South Hip-hop). This thoughtfulness as mentioned by Palmer is extended throughout his travels as much as he can. In one trip to South Africa, he made it the point of visiting a youth community center (while Mr. Aiken makes it a point to visit all McDonald’s) in a poor area of the town and subsequently made a donation. On a tour through Jamaica he took the bras and panties thrown on stage and donated them to a local shelter for women (while Mr. Aiken wears the ones thrown at him on his head). In 2004 a 17y/o fan with Cerebral Palsy and confined to a wheelchair wrote to BET and talked about how much a fan she was. She also mentioned her Senior Prom was near, but she had no date. Guess who arrived in a white limo to take her to that prom? LUDACRIS, What a guy!

These are just some of the things Ludacris Foundation has done:
1. Hosted meals for hungry people at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
2. Helped local programs like Rah Rah’s, Village of Hope, Bankhead Courts Community Center and The Study Hall.
3. Presented pilot program at Atlanta’s South Side Comprehensive High School offering a course in Hip Hop culture 101 which is taught through music and dance.
4. Go to hospitals with rehab centers for kids.
5. Homeless drive in Miami.
6. Does inspirational speeches in schools promoting education...
7. Food program on the 4th of July weekend.
8. Sponsors Boys and Girls Clubs.
9. Help kids to get uniforms for certain basketball teams.

As you can see, most of these activities are hands on with Ludacris being an active participant as he’s always available for his foundation. He has a very qualified team and a fairly large staff. TEAM – “The Ludacris Foundation includes a team of 11 hardworking individuals with an average of twenty years of professional experience ranging from corporate executives of Fortune 500 companies, legal, healthcare and finance fields, as well as the music industry. These individuals have come together as a team sharing the same passion and concern for young people.” (http://www.theludacrisfoundation.org/downloads/TLF_FactBook.pdf).

BTW, about the O’Reilly controversy, he succeeded in getting PEPSI to withdraw Ludacris participation, but not before they agree to sponsor his foundation to the tune of 1-5 million dollars which is what he was going to get paid by PEPSI. Again, what a guy!!

The intention of this blog was to compare both foundations, but frankly, there wasn’t much to be found at The Bubel-Aiken Foundation site except for a new logo and a few old grants and events listed. I did find the following which, I found to be quite interesting:

BBB Charity/Nonprofit Report
The Better Business Bureau®
Serving Eastern North Carolina
5540 Munford Road, Suite 130
Raleigh, NC 27612
919-277-4222
www.bbbenc.org


Bubel/Aiken Foundation, The
PO Box 90307
Raleigh, NC 27675-0307
Telephone: (224) 430-0950
Fax: (773) 777-9434
www.bubelaikenfoundation.org


The BBB reports on members and non-members. If an organization is a member of the BBB, it is stated in this report.


Report Creation Date: July 21, 2004
Report Expiration Date: February 10, 2008
Principal: Ms. Fran Skinner-Lewis, Executive Director
Customer Contact: Ms. Fran Skinner-Lewis, Executive Director - (224) 430-0950
Email Address: contactus@bubelaikenfoundation.org

Entity: Non-Profit
Incorporated: July 2003, NC
File Open Date: July 2004
TOB Classification: Charity - National
BBB Membership: This organization is not a member.

The BBB has requested basic information from this organization but has not received a response. As a result, the BBB may not have current information about the organization.


Additional DBA Names
The Bubel/Aiken Foundation



BBB Comments
Despite written Better Business Bureau requests in the past year, this organization has not provided current information or has declined to be evaluated in relation to the BBB's charity standards. While participation in the BBB's charity review efforts is voluntary, the BBB believes that this lack of cooperation may demonstrate a lack of commitment to transparency and accountability.

The BBB reports on charities and determines if they meet 23 standards on matters such as charity effectiveness, finances, appeals and governance. Without the requested information, the BBB cannot verify if the charity meets these standards. The Bureau does not evaluate the worthiness of a charitable program.


Stated Purpose
The stated mission of The Bubel/Aiken Foundation is to provide services and financial assistance to facilitate fully the integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of those without.


Industry Tips
Guidelines for Business Giving
Participating in Charity Appeals
Donating Your Used Car to Charity



________________________________________
Report as of January 19, 2007
Copyright© 2007 Better Business Bureau®, Inc.


I hope this can shed a little more light to the ignorant poster before stereotyping someone again. While I don’t doubt there are urban artists that would rather spend their money in other more “earthly” desires, a great majority does the opposite and you will never know unless RESEARCH is done. What they do is done for their communities’ benefit and not for a pat in the back. Yesterday, I heard Terri Erwin said something quite appropriate to this discussion. She was talking about their foundation and what they do and she said that foundations are not only for luncheons or hugs. That they’re not to give out money, have conventions to talk about ideas or suggest programs, they are created (at least hers is) to have hands on experience doing the actual work. I’m paraphrasing, but what she said was quite profound and true.

Talk is cheap, but I guess Ludacris DOES puts his money where his mouth is and doesn’t spends it just on bling bling.

http://www.theludacrisfoundation.org/about.php
www.bbbenc.org

Clay?? Blogged??

Supposedly Clay Aiken blogged tonight. I dunno. His blog is almost word for word an announcement that TC made at OFC two days ago. People are paying at the OFC for this??

Let's compare:

The TC announcement at OFC

:01/17/07 : Clay Aiken Wallpaper Contest Winner!By Team Clay

Thanks to everyone who showed us amazing amounts of creativity by submitting an entries for the Clay Aiken Wallpaper Contest -- all of the wallpapers were fantastic, and Clay had a hard time narrowing it down to only one!

Congratulations to the grand-prize winning fan club member, RStanley, whose winning wallpaper will soon be available in the EXTRAS section of the fan club for members to download!

Clay would also like to honorably mention, Betty897X, who submitted an excellent wallpaper design and made the final decision very difficult.

AND "Clay's" blog tonight:

01/19/07 : Congratulations

Congratulations to "RStanley" - winner of the wallpaper contest.

Her design is beautiful and I hope everyone will go to the extras section and check it out once it has been posted.

I'd also like to extend congratulations to runner-up "Betty897X" for her wonderful design.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this contest.

There were so many outstanding entries that it was almost impossible to choose a winner.

You guys constantly amaze me with your creativity.

Till next time...c

Current Mood: Happy

No exclamation marks, no smiley or winky faces? Does anyone think that blog really came from Clay?

Ryan Seacrest on Larry King Live

Gee! Who could Ryan Seacrest be talking about when he says this:

"We have some contestants that -- and we don't need to name names, will put on a front for the audience. We know who they are."


Could one of them be....





?????

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/18/lkl.01.html

A Bit of Clay Aiken Gossip

Came across this and thought it was too good not to share.

Part One From 1/01/07:

Wow, reading those News Years comments do make me feel sad. For a number of obvious reasons....this one not the least of those.As often happens around the holidays, we end up seeing people who we have not seen for a period of time, and begin "catching up." Well, I had the opportunity to converse with a business acquaintance whom I have not spoken with for many months. The conversation went something like this:Hey, are you still a fan of Clay Aiken? (I laughed as I remembered that during one of our conversations quite awhile ago I had told her that I thought this guy was talented and special, something I had not seen in the entertainment business for awhile--and how I admired his foundation and his charity work.) I was pretty quick to explain to her that I was no longer interested in anyway, shape or form in CA.....that I felt I had been delusional about his talent and who he was as a person. I told her that I had begun to see this for myself the first day that I met him. I was going to leave it at that but.....I was met with a "Oh, I am so glad that you saw this for yourself. I have been wanting to tell you this, but just didn't know how." (This person is well connected to people in the music industry, and she proceded to tell me that she had been told some time ago all about CA, his indiscretions and just what the music industry feels about him in general.) She said that she just never wanted to 'burst my bubble' by telling me the truth...and that I was so right to see that CA is just not the person that I thought him to be. We laughed at my naivete (I call it stupidity, but oh well) and changed the subject. I felt something of a fool, truthfully.Let's just say that this was one of the last people that I ever thought something like this would come from. It was just one more confimation for me, and makes me that much sadder as I read about all of these people who have pinned so much on him. And, pleased that any delusion that I might have experienced at one point has long since passed and I am indeed a sane person. I still ask myself...."WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"

Part Two from 1/17/07:

Okay, I have finally had the opportunity to sit down and 'chat' with my business acquaintance/friend again. I can't say that I have learned anything new, but this is what I was told when I asked her if she could eloborate on her earlier comments to me. I was not taking notes, so as best as I can remember, here goes:CA is a complete fraud in regards to the 'goody-2-shoes-Christian boy-image' he portrays to his fans. He built the image to gain sympathy, and about the only thing that has a ring of truth to it is his work with that young boy (Micheal Bubel). He is simply being dishonest. While he is a 'moma's boy', he is not above compromising his relationships with friends and family to further his career. He is considered no more than a 'pebble' in the industry pond, who can only deliver 'covers' and little else is expected from him. He has no respect from the people within the industry, and his unwillingness to answer the questions about his sexuality is for obvious reasons (he's gay!). It does not matter to those 'within' the industry--only to the fans who he has deceived. I have edited this to add something I forgot--it came as no surprise to this industry group when he treated Kelly Ripa as he did, because after all, he is a little 'princess!' Nothing earth-shattering or new here for me, just affirmation of everything I have suspected and heard prior to this. But I think what struck me the most was the disgust that I kept hearing in regards to CA's dishonesty. The deliberate deceit where his fans are concerned--and his family. This seemed to be the most troubling. I am sure CA is not the first one to deceive fans--but I definetly felt as if this deceit really bothered them more than in others and I am not too sure why. While I cannot give names or positions, there was no reason for this person to relay this to me, other than our friendship/relationship and her desire for me to KNOW the truth, because she cares about me--she is not out to destroy CA--she does not care about him one way or the other. She did not know that I had come to see the truth some time ago. For what it is worth...........

http://p067.ezboard.com/ftinfoilhatshousefrm2.showMessageRange?topicID=197.topic&start=41&stop=55

Since They're Coming to Get Us And All...Let's dance!

Clay Aiken is still an ass!

Clay Aiken : Still Rising Like Lava

What's with Claymates and their fascination with lava?

Did they forget the ""r" in the middle of the word? Did they mean to say "larva"?

Who knows. I think Clay would better appreciate the "Lava" shown above. It's "the HEAVY DUTY hand cleaner"!

First one of them declared"He is RISING like LAVA" and now this:

debsgarden

Registered MemberPosts: 1307(

1/16/07 8:19 am)ezSupporter
Re: WAKE UP, RCA!

I am finally hearing all the songs on the radio which is amazing. I loved all these songs for years and am so glad that Clay added some fresh air to the songs and made me enjoy them again in a Thousand different Ways. I look forward to the tour coming up and this road (cd) to continue to do well. If we could only see where this road will take us and what will happen with this cd a year from now, but we are not allowed to know that. There may be things planned that we are not award of. One thing is very clear listening to this cd is it is a timeless treasure, and should stand up to the test of time.

Seems some want this cd to go right to the top and sell millions right away, but that is NOT the direction the Lord has in stored for Clay. It is very clear that the Lord has a plan for Clay and we need to just travel the road and see where it takes us.

I for one like to compare this cd with lava flowing from a volcano it flows slow but consumes everything in its sight as it goes. Some things do take time even Elvis had his share of troubles and it took him time. Why do we think Clay should be free from troubles. He is learning and and he is right where he should be right now. If we asked Clay where he is today he would answer that he is right where God wants him to be. Through the good and bad each adds a color to his painting which in the end will be beautiful.

I for one believe we are still in the very early stages of a Legend. Let us go and enjoy each of the colors that are added even if we don't like some of the colors. The masterpiece will be reveiled down the road.

Edited by: debsgarden at: 1/16/07 8:21 am

http://p071.ezboard.com/ftheclayboardfrm11.showMessageRange?topicID=87481.topic&start=1&stop=20

Clay Aiken : Male Camel Toe. There is Help Available

Claymates: We're Not The Only One's Who Think They're A CULT

Clay Aiken (season two):Yes, he sells a lot of CDs. But he sells them to a strangely overzealous cult of fans who are scary in their intensity.

"When he auditioned, he may have had a geeky appearance, but I loved his voice," said Allison Shea of Norwich. "I followed him all the way through, and it was interesting to see his style change, but not his voice. His singing is great, and I wished he would have won."

Sorry Claymates, but to the general public, he is better known for rudely dissing Kelly Ripa and dodging questions about his personal life.

Minus 2.


http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070115/LIFESTYLE/701150336

Clay Aiken: He's Not Fat, He's Just Big Faced!

And big breasted, too!

Claymates Think WE Are Responsible For Globe Story

This was in the comments section of the new Claymate blog that opened up in response to this blog.

Apparently, they think we are SO POWERFUL that we managed so somehow plant the seeds for what would become the Clay Aiken feature in the current "Globe" issue!!

Are they really so out of touch with reality that they believe that we are the only ones who don't like Clay Aiken? It would seem so. Read on:


tnmtmama said...
Anon at 11:17I know how you feel. I get so tired of behaving as a civilized person in the face of these attacks. I'd love to fight fire with fire. However, these attacks have included US, and if we send this stuff to media outlets, we'll be labeled "those crazy Claymates" again. It is too bad that they, the media, are too stupid to realize how they have been manipulated by a small group of insane fanatics who live to hate one popstar.
January 13, 2007 11:49 PM


Anonymous said...
You know reading their blog is actually hysterical because they are sooo deluded. AS in certifiable .. and they don't see it. I think they actually believe the shit they say. They just take something that is a lie and repeat it as if it were true and eveyone just falls into lockstep. And the LOGIC!! bwahhah!! Lets see, they help plant a story that Clay is a diva around the internet and on news blogs and then the tabloids (Globe) picks it up and they turn around and say see it was true. Do they not SEE how deluded that is? Is there no one there with a logical braincell? What hypocritical maroons.Like whats on this blog and also on theirs, with them getting all up in arms and saying the orchestra hired Clay for the show when that so totally was NOT true! Yet just because they decided it was, well then it was. Is there a psychological term other than deluded for that kind of shit? Besides nuts, I mean?
January 14, 2007 1:58 AM


Anonymous said...
To the poster at 1:58AM:Yes, there is a term for these nutcases. Pathological.
January 14, 2007 2:50 AM