Home : American Idol, Celebrity Feuds, Adam Lambert : Clay Aiken Shreds 'Idol' -- Can't Stand the Posers

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Clay Aiken Shreds 'Idol' -- Can't Stand the Posers

Posted May 22nd 2009 6:00AM by TMZ Staff

Clay AikenYou're not a true ex-"American Idol" contestant unless you bash the show that made you famous.

Clay Aiken took to his personal website (available to view for the low, low price of $29.95/year) to rip "Idol" and its king of glam runner-up Adam Lambert. As Gawker pointed out, despite only hearing Lambert sing once, Aiken claimed he thought his "ears would bleed" when he belted out "Ring of Fire." Pot, perhaps you've met kettle?

Then Aiken played the "it was better back in my day" card and wrote, "The show was different then, and folks made it in seasons 1-3 because they were 'real' people who happened to sing/entertain well. But, somewhere along the way, AI stopped being about real people."

Note to Clay -- real people don't charge other real people $29.95/year to access their website.


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Tags: adam lambert, AdamLambert, american idol, AmericanIdol, clay aiken, ClayAiken

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(Page 2 of 9) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. GOOD FOR YOU AIKEN!! The ratings for the season finale were the second worst in 8 years - anyone with half a brain would see they are doing something wrong. BTW - Lambert made my ears bleed too, and I listened to more than one song. Makes me cringe just thinking about it.

Posted at 10:25AM on May 22nd 2009 by Tired of AI

17. No landslide, it was 1 million votes difference, and so what? Cant say 'All America says...'

Posted at 10:23AM on May 22nd 2009 by tomcat

18. if Kelly Clarkson was sayint this, I may think it was true... but c'mon!!!! thats a joke! ha ha ha

Posted at 11:07AM on May 22nd 2009 by pau pau

19. Many kudos for Clay and he's actually right. Not even a fan of his but I agree and respect his comments. Just like how Survior was a badass and REAL show during its first couple of seasons, same with AI. The more people watch it and see what works from what doesn't, the more prepared they can be and create chaaracters for themselves, just like how Adam did.

And as far as charging to see his site, it's called Capitalism Harvey. The same system that allowed you to get rich off a BS show that only attacks and makes fun of people. Are your "sponsors" advertising for free? Didn't think so, douche!!

Posted at 11:49AM on May 22nd 2009 by bobbie

20. how can you take pits of something someone said and just turn it into the story you WANT it to be? ugh.
anyway. clay has a right to his opinion on any of the contrestants and even the show. i loved adam on ai, butttt, i know a lot of people who could not stand his screaming! also, none of you have evern just heard someone sing once and think, oh,, i don't care for that.. for that style or type of voice, etc.?? sorry, but i do that all the time. i know right away if i like someone! clay is not a rock fan and has said in the past he can't relate to that kind of music and screaming only reminds him of his childhood.. not sure if that last bit was a joke or not. and the whole pt of his blog was how AI has lost touch with finding the nest RAW undiscovered talent.. the boy/girl next door who would not have had a chance otherwise.. how they went from an amateur talent show to an over the top BMA wanna be show!! it's ridiculous and sad and i agree with clay. i want the early days of AI!! i still like adam, but to each their own. also, ring of fire? not so good. ;)

Posted at 10:25AM on May 22nd 2009 by angy

21. So Aiken expressed an opinion, one that is shared by many, and he gets clobbered? What's really funny is that 6 years ago, you wouldn't catch either Kiss or Queen on the same production lot as AI. Now they want to be on the show?

Posted at 10:29AM on May 22nd 2009 by db

22. WTG Clay! Checked his fan site --you guys didn't bother to verify the charges let alone what he said. Idol jumped the shark a long time ago and people do not want to be told who to vote for. Good for Clay in speaking his mind. I agree with him.

Posted at 10:26AM on May 22nd 2009 by corinne

23. Bravo Clay Aiken for saying the truth. Idol is a waste of time.

Posted at 10:29AM on May 22nd 2009 by Adamn

24. Sara, you're wrong. Lots of artists charge for their OFFICIAL fan clubs. Kelly Clarkson charges A LOT MORE for her fan club than Aiken does - $45 per year. wow.

You go with your bad self Clay! From what I've read on the internet, there are more people who agree with you about American Idol than disagree. Some just have to twist it to meet their own agenda.

Posted at 10:32AM on May 22nd 2009 by Calls BS

25. Mr. Aiken is totally on the money! American Idol is about pimping the contestants of THEIR choice to eventually launch them into careers and make money off them. It is no longer about AMERICA finding undiscovered talent. Anyone who doesn't get that is clueless and has their head in the sand.
And as for Adam Lambert, he made my ears bleed too, on more than one occasion. Screeching is NOT singing and choosing a key and sticking with it is also a good idea. Mr. Lambert has a lot to learn about singing and finesse and nuance. It isn't all about flash and drama and who can screech the longest and the loudest. It is after all called singing, not screeching!
But that is just my opinion, something we are all entitled too, including Mr. Aiken!

Posted at 10:37AM on May 22nd 2009 by SickofScreeching

26. Adam Lambert makes my ears bleed and I watched the entire season. He's right, AI is now about who they can market better and no longer about finding undiscovered talent.

Posted at 10:47AM on May 22nd 2009 by Sandi

27. Come on TMZ you only mentioned part of his blog here to fit your agenda. How come only Clay Aikens opinion matters anyway. Have you even bothered to look at who else is saying the same thing he did. Why don't you take a look at what newsweek, ameicanidoltracker and nydailynews, just to name a few, are saying. A lot of people felt the same way about Adams screechy singing, including me. And yes other fan sites charge for membership. Clay thank you for your honesty.

Posted at 10:39AM on May 22nd 2009 by Roma

28. The truth hurts doesn't it - no wonder American Idol ratings were as low as they were that night - no one wanted to watch the "chosen one Adam of the year" be crowned king - BORING!

Posted at 10:44AM on May 22nd 2009 by Meriah

29. He's just pissed because now he's not the biggest "shoulda' won" 2nd runner up Idol contestant anymore. Now Adam's the one who might as well have won the show, just like Clay was way way back in the second season... that was a long time ago. He needs to get over it! And BTW, you can't get more "regular person" than Kris Allen, so where does he get off using a 100% one-of-a-kind talent like Adam as an example of the general type of person who competes on "today's AI?" And shouldn't he be supporting another member of the gay community for ALMOST winning? At least Adam embraced his sexuality (while still remaining Idol-PC) instead of pathetically failing at putting on an act in front of the entire nation - now that takes balls and the only balls Clay Aiken will ever have are the ones flying toward his face *wink*

Posted at 10:43AM on May 22nd 2009 by her HIGHness

30. By the way, Gene Simmons doesn't think Adam Lambert is a rock singer either - you gonna make a news article on that as well?

Posted at 10:45AM on May 22nd 2009 by Meriah

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