Clive Davis’ new memoir, The Soundtrack of My Life, has already made headlines for the revelation that the legendary music producer is bisexual. But at least one of his superstar protegees is pissed-off at the 80-year-old Davis.
On WhoSay.com, Kelly Clarkson posted an open letter to fans refuting claims Davis apparently made about her in his autobiography—and revealing some behavior that, if true, is pretty despicable.
Davis won a 2006 Grammy for producing Clarkson’s album Breakaway, but she claims he actively insulted her talents:
So I just heard Clive Davis is releasing a memoir and spreading false information about me and my music. I refuse to be bullied and I just have to clear up his memory lapses and misinformation for myself and for my fans. It feels like a violation. Growing up is awesome because you learn you don’t have to cower to anyone – even Clive Davis.
First, he says I burst into “hysterical sobbing” in his office when he demanded Since You Been Gone be on my album. Not true at all. His stories and songs are mixed up. I did want more guitars added to the original demo and Clive did not. Max, Luke and I still fought for the bigger sound and we prevailed and I couldn’t be more proud of the life of that song. I resent him dampening that song in any way.
But, yes, I did cry in his office once. I cried after I played him a song I had written about my life called “Because Of You.” I cried because he hated it and told me verbatim that I was a “sh*tty writer who should be grateful for the gifts that he bestows upon me.” He continued on about how the song didn’t rhyme and how I should just shut up and sing. This was devastating coming from a man who I, as a young girl, considered a musical hero and was so honored to work with.
But I continued to fight for the song and the label relented. And it became a worldwide hit. He didn’t include that in the book.He also goes on to say My December wasn’t successful because I co-penned the album and it didn’t have “pop hits”. Well, first let me say, I’ve co-penned many of my “pop hits.” Secondly, My December went platinum (It sold 20,000 less than All I Ever Wanted which followed My December.) Hardly a huge failure. Never Again, the ONLY single they released in the US from that record was a Top 10 hit. I am very proud of that and I have my fans to thank. But, again, what’s most interesting about his story is what he leaves out: He doesn’t mention how he stood up in front of his company at a convention and belittled me and my music and completely sabotaged the entire project. It never had a chance to reach it’s full potential. My December was an album I needed to make for myself for many reasons and the fact that I was so completely disregarded and disrespected was so disheartening, there really aren’t words to explain….
Anyway, I love my job. I love my music. I love my fans. I love my label and all of my professional relationships… now. And I am grateful for Clive for teaching me to know the difference.
Cheers to another amazing year! And, as always, thanks for listening!
KC
Clarkson has denied rumors about her own sexuality—as did Whitney Houston, another pop idol Davis worked with. Maybe Clive’s the one starting the rumors?
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Chad Hunt
HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE AN ANGRY LESBIAN.
QJ201
Remember Clive is a music producer…basically a pimp.
Even when My December was released there were stories floating around that support whay Kelly has to say.
And given how bitchy Clive is being…he’s a full on queen even if “bisexual.”
avesraggiana
Maybe, as well as being a queeny, bitchy bisexual, Clive Davis is fat-phobic. Perhaps if Clarkson lost a little weight, he wouldn’t treat her so badly.
Gigi Gee
Not helpful.
2eo
Give this a read. The amount of respect you’ll have for the machinations of the industry will collapse [or in my case, it will merely reaffirm what I already knew].
I like Kelly Clarkson, it’s inoffensive background music, which is about as close to a compliment as you get from me.
Caleb in SC
Clive Owen is a closet case piece of shit, who used his position to sleep with many vulnerable young artists, both male and female. For him, it is a power thing, more akin to a rapist. Fuck him, and I am with Kelly on this. And . . . I could give a shit about pop music.
Charli Girl
You geaux girl!!!
Cam
Oh PLEASE! Clarkson gave interviews before she released “My Decemnber” basically saying that Davis was old, out of touch, etc… and that she understood music and was going to be writing her next CD.
Well her next Cd didn’t have any radio hits and soon after she apologized to Davis and asked to go back to him.
So she claims she is being “Bullied” but she was the one that originally attacked him for his age and insulted the guy’s ability to do his job even though he was the producer that gave her her first hits.
I’m not a huge Davis fan, but he handed Clarkson many of her early hits and she was the first to badmouth him. Sounds like she attacked him first.
Charli Girl
Oh pahleeeze… You know that fella is probably crotchety and crabby!
WayDifferent
I admit I’m not a follower of your’s Kelly but thanks for not caving into bubble gum pop for gays and suburban straight women. However, you’re not the trailblazer here. There were many before you that put him in his place. Whitney wasn’t one of them. “Saving All My Love For You” had to be re-done because it “sounded too black”.
Cobra71
Team Kelly all the way baby!!!
Brian
Face it, you gay bullies – male bisexuality is real and actually common. There are more bi men than either gay or straight men in this world. Jealous, are you?
You queens are just jealous that bisexual men. are out there in the mainstream whereas you queens segregate yourselves into ghettos like lepers. Face it – bi guys are at the forefront of integration.
MickeyP.
@Chad Hunt: I don’t believe she’s a lesbian. So many public people are said to be gay and most of the time,it’s not true.I think people say she’s a lesbian because she has a large gay following and she is pro-equality.Just my opinion…
Geoff B
@MickeyP.: I agree. She’s engaged to Reba McItire’s stepson. I hardly think this is staged considering Reba is a staunch ally. And the one hit single off “My December” is her best song anyway. “Never Again” rocks. I don’t claim to know anything about Kelly and Clive’s feud, but they should let bygones be bygones.
Mischiefwolf
Once again I feel the need to call out Queerty on a needlessly inflammatory article title. This issues that Kelly Clarkson is presenting have absolutely nothing to do with Clive Davis’ sexuality. I realize that the only reason that Queerty is paying attention to this story at all is because of Davis’ acknowledgement of being bisexual, but it is unnecessary to justify that fact by making it a part of the article title.
Gigi Gee
@Brian: Why so insecure and bitter? You attack gay men, saying that we’re “jealous” of you (assuming you’re bi) and that we “segregate (ourselves) into ghettos like lepers.” Not the musings of a kind, gentle soul. You make these accusations without looking the cultural relevance or the historical context. Ghettos exist because people who felt marginalized by society found strength and safety in numbers. They found day-to-day life easier when they were surrounded by people like them. I would argue that this is no longer the case. As a real estate agent in a large metropolis I know that there are now gay people spread throughout the city. That’s what we gays do. We move into areas considered “up and coming,” and we turn them into desirable pockets of livability. The area that was once considered the “gay ghetto” in my city is now very mixed, the majority of its inhabitants being upwardly mobile hetero hipsters.
I’ll freely admit that I don’t understand bisexuality, but I don’t understand heterosexuality either. Or DWTS. To each his/her own.
WayDifferent
@Caleb in SC: Who’s Clive Owen?
BrianZ
@Brian: Can’t speak for anyone else, but this ‘queen’ isn’t looking to integrate with anyone. And while I’m at it, I might add that we all understand that by “integration” you mean pass as straight. I’m not looking to trade who I am with some bulllllsh!t idea that someone else has of who or what I should be. Show some respect, hopefully for yourself first. K? Thank you.
As for the subject of the article: So that’s nice that Clive came out as bi. I don’t think it’s going to move the needle, any needle, much at all. As for Ms. Clarkson’s reply she probably did more to help promote old boy’s book than she did to defend(?) herself. I do enjoy how so many of these artists (used so loosely) think the world really gives a $hit.
Chad Hunt
@MickeyP.: As someone privy to many Hollywood parties etc during my 10 year tenure in the porn industry etc. I can tell for a certain. Most of the time it is true.
DJPerezMA
@Chad Hunt: PREACH! I’m sure that there are a lot of stories you and your compatriots in porn could tell about the ‘party games’ of Hollywood celebrity circuit, but you choose tact and discretion instead. Hey, all the “Blind Items” on various blogs prove there’s too much smoke in the hills of Hollywood for there not to be a few fires, eh?
Aside from ID issues, I’m “Team Kelly” on this one. I really don’t think that Clive grooves to having artists he works with stand up to him. MHO, (&, yeah, everyone has one) is that he’d rather package “money-makers” instead of “let talent develop iteslf”. I’m glad Kelly spoke up; she’s got big clanking steel ovaries!
DJPerezMA
Another thing regarding Mr. Davis: I find it in very poor taste for him to drop his book and all of his publicity and “celebration of diversity” on the Anniversary of the deary of Whitney Houston, alleged lesbian and allegedly kept in the closet “for her career” (& Mr. Davis’s pocketbook. Oh, yes, children we’re going there!)
Having a Pride party on your dead talent’s grave might not be considered a “Good Look”……
hamoboy
The Clive Davis’s and Max Muchnik’s of the entertainment industry have a lot to do with how an industry so full of LGBT people remains so aggressively heteronormative in it’s output.