At least one Internet rumor says that’s the case, with the gay American Idol star’s official site ClayAiken.com being redirected to a fanpage at ClayOnline.com. If true, he would join other RCA Idol drop-offs like Blake Lewis and Katharine McPhee.
Photos: Splash News
OMG
Poor Clay…he looks like a 60 year old lady in a bad wig….
eric m.
I’m sorry, you can’t tell me he hasn’t had work done. what the hell is going on with his face???
Reny
Is that what passes for news these days? You’re several months too late.
Clay’s name disappeared from RCA site couple of weeks after he came out. That’s why they dumped him, and why so many other celebrities are staying in the closet. All that gay propaganda about how coming clean is good for your career is a bunch of BS.
Pragmatist
I’ve never enjoyed (or even really been able to tolerate) Clay’s music. But I sure do wish people would stop picking on him. And that includes you, Queerty editors, with these needlessly unflattering pics. We all take lousy photos from time to time. How would you like having them plastered on the internet in an orgy of schadenfreude over your personal and professional disappointments?
Sam
He’s talented enough that he will always be able to make a living doing B’way or something. Hopefully, unlike Fantasia he invested his money well.
Scott
Magic Eight ball says: I see cruise ships in your future.
Alexa
Yes, this is old news, the fans discovered his name missing from RCA’s website shortly after he came out. Of course there was no publicity about it as RCA didn’t want to appear homophobic – there were rumors going around that RCA was very much against him coming out and threatened to drop him if he did. I guess they made good on their threat.
blake
@Pragmatist:
I agree. What exactly has Aiken done that has inspired so much anger? Much of the gay press seems to have a grudge against the guy.
One would think he were a closeted Republican politician who made a career out of preaching anti-semitism while getting a little man-love on the side. Instead, Aiken was just some guy from a small town who almost won a talent show but gained fame.
blake
@blake:
whoops, I meant “homophobia” not “anti-semitism.”
Reny
Radar Online http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/02/clay-aiken-dumped-1.php
Quote: “Roger Neal used to rep Donny Osmond, Lee Greenwood, the Gatlin Brothersand Kenny Rogers. He now owns Neal Public Relations and today he spoke exclusively with RadarOnline.com about reports RCA dropped Aiken.
Neal says the minute Aiken came out he thought: “Who is the idiot advising him? He just killed his career.”
POP MUSIC FORUM
i think he has a good voice, but i really dont like his music. also, that photo is god awful lol. do you reckon he even looks in the mirror when he’s applying foundation? looks like no haha
GranDiva
My feeling about it is that I think he was already on the way out at RCA the minute he signed on to do Spamalot. Kind of gets in the way of cranking out lots of albums. And realistically, RCA and its associated labels have been cutting their losses on American Idol contestants since season 1 (remember Justin and Tamyra?). This isn’t that much of a surprise to me.
gurlene
@Pragmatist: I honestly feel sorry for him. I have seem multiple pics of him and he looks the same in all. Lonely. Even when he is smiling.
Ruben Stoddard was also released from his record company as well. I quit watching the show after season two when I saw how desperate people were to get on even for a tryout.
This article reminds me of the days when Mario Lopez was so desperate to keep his name in public he starred in a movie that looked like a twink-porn casting call. The movie was The Journey:Absolution. Read the comments about it on IMDB.
Jean
“I have seem multiple pics of him and he looks the same in all. Lonely.”
Not any more 🙂
http://mjsbigidolblog.com/2009/01/23/clay-aiken-reed-kelly-kissing-booth-pictures/
Matt
Its total shit that he got dropped for coming out. 5 years of attempts to out and humiliate him finally killed his career. Way to go Queerty! And putting up pictures of him at the stage door while having massive hat head from the wigs he wore for Spamalot and his stage makeup still on is assholey of you.
Kyle
RCA treats all American Idol alumni as disposable with a few exceptions. Clay had a good five year run with RCA.
So far they have dropped Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks, Katherine McPhee, Bo Bice, Blake Lewis, Diana Degarmo, Justin Guarini and now Clay Aiken. The bottom line is when you no longer sell, you are out.
I’m sure Clay will be OK. He’s talented enough to go on with a career in entertainment.
Alexa
I’m sure the bottom line was lack of sales, but I still think the reason they kept it quiet for so long was because they were worried they would appear homophobic because of the timing.
@Reny: no offense, but that guy is an idiot. All Clay’s CDs came out before he did, so dwindling sales can’t be blamed on him coming out. And while he definitely lost some fans I was really pleased how many are still fans. They still turned out to see him on Broadway and they still donate insane amounts of money to his charities (Broadway Bears was last week, the Spamalot bear signed by him was the top selling bear again, going for $16,000). I guess what I’m saying is that a lot of people, including me, were fooled into thinking his fanbase was mostly crazy homophobes, when there were actually very few of them, they were just LOUD.
@Jean: yeah, he’s looked a lot happier the past year or so. His CD didn’t do very well, but his personal life, with a new baby and a nice boyfriend, seems to be going very well. And he really was very good in Spamalot.
Reny
@Alexa: no, coming out was the final nail in the coffin. What really killed Clay’s career was the carefully cultivated hate that turned around the positive public opinion he had after Idol. Between the absolutely vile treatment from the gay media, and the nasty barbs from homophobes in the mainstream publications, the poor guy really had no chance. There’s also the issue of the lack of support from RCA, but it is possible that his record company simply gave up on Clay knowing that there was nothing they could do to counteract the media assault.
Clay hasn’t done anything to deserve this. He just wanted to sing and entertain, and to help children with disabilities have better lives. I hope that those responsible for his downfall will pay dearly one day.
Matt
“I’m sure the bottom line was lack of sales.”
That is RCA’s fault. When is the last time they supported and promoted his music? He hasn’t had radio support since 2003. How amazing is it that he sold 6 million albums and headlined 9 of his own tours in amphitheaters and performing arts centers in every major city, without promotion? The guy is mad talented and awesome live in concert.
scott
It’s not RCA’s fault. It’s Clay and/or whoever picks his music for his record.
His records sucks. No, really. Boring, sappy, music. At least the first record has some beats, the last one was zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I’m a huge fan of Clay’s voice and what he can do with it. Too bad, he can’t pick good music. The best song so far was David Foster’s song. That man knows how to make good music. If Clay was going to go the sappy angle, he should follow Josh Groban. He makes decent music and is mad successful.
YWT2004
Gee, some of the comments here leave me bewildered!! If you don’t like his music that is one thing , but no one either gay or straight deserves to be treated with disrespect. I want to point out some truths here :
1. RCA did not drop/ditch Clay at all , Clay did not sign with them and fans could not be happier . Why on earth stay with a lable who are just throwing you crumbs. They did not support Clay Aiken not because he was not good (because he was ) , but they did not know where to put him on radio from this goof American Idol TV show.
2. You cannot increase sales of a CD when you don’t know that he even made one! People are still wanting what Clay has to deliver , RCA just won’t promo it.
3. I have been to see him perform 6 times in concert and this guy has talent . He can sing circles around most artists out there …I have seen how he relates to his audiance and leaves them begging for more! He also got rave reviews on Broadway for his improv comedy and acting !
4. If people would just stop being so judgemental by what they perceive and take the time to really see what an entertainer he really is , instead of believing the lies the media spins , you would be pleasently surprised .
5. Clay NEVER wanted to do just covers songs (by the way , many artists do them ) He and his EP were headed in another direction other than covers when old foggy Clive Davis (who should be put in a home) MANDATED covers .
6. Clay’s latest CD is by far his best. It is good and has a couple of songs “FALLING”, “EVERYTHING I DON’T NEED” that are not covers but would be very radio friendly ! Clay even wrote a song “LOVER ALL ALONE” that is hauntingly beautiful !
I am glad RCA is not his label any longer and know that he will get the promo he long deserves!
Cam
RCA dropped him because his latest CD didn’t even go gold. So his latest CD sold less than Taylor hicks CD, Hicks got dropped and he wasn’t gay. It’s all about lack of sales. George Michael, Elton John, and Melissa Etheridge all still have recording contracts because they are still selling.