Claymates, cover your ears. I realize that this may be hard to believe, but Clay Aiken was not always the vicious and feared whirlwind of menace and melody that he is today. At one point in time he was even considered something of a WIMP.
Tomorrow on the Dr Phil show, the multi-platinum American Idol '02 runner-up will discuss being ill-treated as a willowy youth. "He talks about his own experiences being bullied," said RCA Records publicist Roger Widynowski, "verbally ... throughout his whole school career. Mostly through elementary and junior high."
"I don't know that he was bullied so much as he was just ignored," said Aiken's mother Faye Parker. "So I don't know. We'll have to hear more about his story when he tells it on TV." A little defensive are we mom?
Aiken has discussed the topic before. "The first two years of high school, I was shy. I got picked on for the way I was dressed. I had Coke-bottle glasses, and my hair was just atrocious," he told Cosmo Girl.
He told Entertainment Weekly, "I actually started convincing myself that wedgies were compliments." Very Taoist.
He also said that by his senior year of high school the road warrior we all know him to be began to emerge and he became somewhat popular at Raleigh, NC's Leesville High School.
Okay, so I made up the road warrior stuff - he became somewhat popular because he could sing and the bullies were tired of picking on such an obvious target.
Last week do-gooder Aiken announced the first recipients of the Clay Aiken ABLE to SERVE grants, providing grants of up to $2,000 each to youth with disabilities for community service projects for National Youth Service Day, April 15-17.
"Conventional wisdom often looks upon youth with disabilities as a population to be served BY volunteers, instead of as a group that can serve AS volunteers," he said. "The Bubel/Aiken Foundation and Youth Service America seek to change this misperception by engaging youth with disabilities to serve create and lead others in service projects on National Youth Service Day and every day of the year."
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - kevin fortuna
american idol - this is not bad, as far as pop culture goes. nobody is being hurt or exploited, there's no swear words, ludeness or violence. and hte entertainments isn't bad. and aiken doesn't seem like such a bad role model, really...seems like he's doing something with his success and giving back. good for him.
kevin fortuna
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kevin fortuna
2 - Eric Olsen
good for him indeed
3 - molly rogers
It is refreshing to read witty, amusing remarks that do not degrade or insult their target. Thank you, many columnists conceal their lack of wit by just making insulting remarks. I will be back again to read your column.
4 - Eric Olsen
thanks Molly, I like Clay but also think he's mighty odd
5 - NancyGail
Odd he may be, but the boy can sing
6 - Dianne Melton
Dear Mr. Olson, Thank you for such a fine article about Clay Aiken. You will discover that all of Clay's fans have not only purchased his book, but have read it numerous times. Clay is an extremely talented and versatile artist who possesses a pure, powerful and beautiful voice. Clay Aiken is witty, articulate and wise beyond his years. All who have come to know Clay over the last two years have found him to be a young man of strong faith, purpose, integrity and genuine selflessness. He is a wonderful role model for the young and a true example for the middle age and older generation.
7 - Eric Olsen
thanks Dianne, the lad has a lot going for him, there's no doubt about that
8 - Kim
Is there a reason that I keep getting an error message when I try to do a trackback ping to this post, or am I just stupid? It's probably the latter.
9 - Lynn
Eric, why do you find Clay odd?
Overall I found your article to be positive, but your comment do-gooder sounded very condescending and I don't understand why.
10 - Debbie
I totally agree with Diane Melton. Your article was funny and you weren't insulting this fine person, Clay Aiken. He has done more to boost the hopes and dreams of the heart of American than any pop idol I can think of. He is adorable, can sing like crazy, and is an honorable guy.
11 - Dawn
The article was good and the only reason why i could think that one would think that Clay is odd because he does not fit the normal mold of what society associates as being cool. I think its an amazing testimony when a man can finally stand up and say I am none of those things that society says that I should be. His faith is a great encouragement for anyone considering that he is in the mainstream of public eye and ridicule but even with that he stands his grounds and doesn't mold himself into being something that he is not. Go Clay!!
12 - Kim
Whoops, sorry for the double ping. I told you I was stupid! :-)
13 - Kristie
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This made me LOL because you aren't the only one to have that thought from her response. She may be in denial about it all... or least about her part in his bullying. ;) (The 'uncool' clothes she bought for him, the inspirational notes on his lunchbag in middle school, sitting with him in class all day because he got in trouble for being a chatterbox etc). Kids attack this stuff like crazy in grade school hehe.
Thanks for not bashing Clay because he doesn't fit the 'cool mold.' It gets so old after awhile. I really enjoyed your article.
14 - Kristie
Woops, I was trying to quote this in my above post:
- A little defensive are we mom? -
15 - Eric Olsen
Thanks all, the kind words are much appreciated. As I said, I really do like Clay and he seems to be very much the real thing in terms of concern for his fellow man, but I'm also a smartass and can't help a little joking around.
"Odd" was probably not the best word on my part. I simply meant an unusual combination of characteristics with the dweebyness, yet steely determination required to do so well on the show, the gentle speaking voice but the booming singing voice, etc.
And Lynn, I was using "do-gooder" somewhat jokingly, since the term is usually used with some sarcasm, but in Clay's case the impulse to help out seems to be totally sincere.
16 - sandra
Clay is a special guy and I thought your article was very enjoyable. He certainly is a do-gooder and that is one of the reasons we LOVE him.
17 - Eric Olsen
thanks Sandra
18 - shirley romano
Clay personifies all that women are looking for in a man; charm, a belief in himself and all others, incredible talent, and a desire to use his celebrity for doing good things. His unshakeable faith in God has given him courage, and a kind of gallantry that doesn't seem to exist anymore, and it seems almost herculean to see him balance his musical career (which springs from the depths of hell) to using that same glorious voice to champion humanity (which is from heaven) and stay so earthbound and real. I love Clay Aiken for all that he is and will become.
19 - Shae
I think it is awesome that Clay has set himself up, or put himself out there to advocate for a cause he apparently feels strongly about. I find him to be truly inspiring. I have read his book and loved it. Anyone with children needs to read this book!!
20 - Eric Olsen
will Clay be the new King of All Media?
21 - Carol
Great article! And yes, I guess you can say that Clay is odd. Odd that he's not like every other singer who's only worried about filling their own pockets. Clay stays grounded and needs to give something back. Our Clay is special indeed. A fine young man, beautiful inside and out, with such talent and special qualities. He's a keeper!
22 - Eric Olsen
"our Clay" - thanks Carol, that says a lot!
23 - Lynn
Kim, I think it is much more fanatical to track and belittle a fandom and people that you admit to no longer having a interest in. At least those that like Clay are using their energies in a positive way, you are on the other hand are being a bully.
24 - Eric Olsen
ah, so Kim's an apostate. Has the Dr. Phil show aired yet?
25 - Kim
Yes, Eric, apparently I am. You're not the only one who's eeeeeevil! Apparently, if you were part of something (even if it was over a year ago) you're not allowed to ever criticize anyone who is still part of it. I guess this means that Robert C. Byrd is being a bully if he criticizes the KKK? Hmmm ...
And also, if you call a few members of a group of people crazy (for saying things like, "Clay is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen" when they have CHILDREN) then there must be something wrong with YOU. It reminds me of a few weeks ago, when Britney Spears said that the tabloids were reporting on KFed's gallavanting in Vegas because the reporters had weight problems and ill-behaved children. Huh?