Saturday, May 16, 2009

Clay Aiken & the Internet


Clay Aiken has had his fair share of rumor being reported as fact, and I’m sure that there are many many more people/celebrities out there too.

This past week, Clay's name has been bandied about the internet, attached to a story that gets more outrageous each time it's posted. It disgusts me to see the level that the "press" has stooped to.

But it's not just Clay, yesterday I read two very disturbing stories about the “media” and about the internet. The first was about a family fighting to have pictures taken off the web. The pictures were leaked by two California Highway Patrol officers and were of their daughter who had died tragically and horrifically in a car accident. Their hands are tied, but they are fighting. You can read more on this story here Newsweek.com - One Family's Fight

The second was about Brooke Shields. Her mother, who has Alzheimer’s, was taken from her assisted living home by two “reporters” from the National Enquirer who misrepresented themselves (in other words they lied) to get her off the premises in an attempt to get some juicy gossip. What the HELL is wrong with people to take advantage of a 75 year old woman. You can read more on this story here People.com - Brooke Shields

It is outrageous the level that our society has sunk to. I used to think that it was just a hand full of people who enjoyed this sensationalism, but now I’m afraid that it may be the majority - I find that very sad and very scary.

I try to do my part by not reading this kind of crap and staying away from any site that supports it. This gets more and more difficult as time goes on.

In my opinion, the only way to change it is to change the laws. This is not the media our founding fathers had in mind when they structured Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Information. Something absolutely must be done. I've contacted my Senators & Congressmen once already, but maybe I need to contact them again. It is getting out of control and is now affecting PRIVATE citizens - not just celebrities (who, believe it or not, are also private citizens)

I highly recommend you check out this timely article on The Clay Aiken News Network


18 comments:

fgs said...

Great blog and oh so true. Just to add to it, Farrah also showed her dislike for the National Enquirer and their earlier stories about her. Thanks for helping people become aware of the media problem. I hope people read this and realize we really need to question what we read.

Anonymous said...

Agree! Clay Aiken has had some nasty rumors spread around about him--and we're not talking about him being gay. We know that, but the rumors never seem to stop. Seems as though some people are very persistent--especially his stalker.
Clay is certainly not the only celebrity with these problems. If there is no story seems like tabloids can make one of their own by citing unnamed sources.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for bringing this topic to attention again. Its a sad world we live in when other peoples lives are so boring that they have to "lie", "invent stuff" and make other lives miserable - obviously kind of like the lives they must lead themselves.

copingincalifornia said...

Amazing what happened to Brooke Shields' mom. And Clay has been raked over the coals for years. It's time this crap stopped!

Truth Rules said...

All we can do is keep calling attention to the garbage that passes for journalism. It's not just Clay Aiken, it's spilling over into the private sector and affecting the lives of private citizens. Shameful!

SueReu said...

Truth Rules. The article I posted about the family in California should strike fear into the hearts of anyone reading it.

Those people are just normal people trying to come to terms with the devastating loss of their daughter. They are not celebrities - they're like you and me. If it can happen to them, it can happen to anyone and there is no law ANYWHERE to protect them!

katy said...

Internet = the best and the worst of infomania. At this time nothing needs to be verified, and much put out there definitely lying, hating and misrepresenting. The worst is Clay Aiken's main stalker, a middle aged man with an unhealthy obsession. Clay handles it with dignity and ignores him.

lulu said...

Farrah Fawcett, Brooke Shields, Clay Aiken. What do they all have in common? The tabloid media relentlessly pursues them and it follows them to the internet. It is distasteful, cruel, and without truth. Truth takes a backseat.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this blog.

musicfan said...

It is amazing how "stupid" the press thinks their readers are. Don't they realize that they are becoming a laughingstock.

I sure would like to see some rules put in place about the unethical press.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the blog. Clay Aiken has had to put up with a lot over the years.

Anonymous said...

Amen Sistah ....

The media has come a looong way
down ever since George Hurst in
the 1880's......

Anonymous said...

It's a sorry state we are in, and Clay Aiken has had more than his share.

Anonymous said...

National Enquirer, Chicago Sun-Times, peas in a pod now. Freedom of the press, seems to mean freedom to trash good people.
The current crap regarding Clay Aiken and AI, not one factual word in the story. The Brooke Shields story is
heartwrenching...practically kidnapping her mother for a story.

Dianne Barbee said...

SueReu,

As you said, your comment at CANN evolved into a blog all its own. Excellent discussion of journalism ethics and lack thereof.

Thank you for your kind remarks in the Carolina blog. Have a super weekend ... gardening, LOL!

Caro

CLM said...

Great Blog Sue!!

I too get so angry at the lack of media integrity. I really wish there was a quick fix. So many good people are being used and hurt from this "new" method of reporting news.

Clay Aiken, Brooke Sheilds and a countless number of celebs have had to endure the lies told by the media. Now it is happening to "regular" people. Something has to be done.

Anonymous said...

The REAL reporters of times past are probably rolling in their graves at how their passion and hard work has been denigrated into what is now called reporting and what is considered news worthy.

Internet Laws probably won't get passed until we've advanced on to something else beyond the internet. Is it because our representatives are so out of tune that they don't realize what is going on?

Ashes said...

It's frightening to know there are so many sick people out there. Whatever happened to the right to privacy??

Excellent write up here and CANN.