(antiMusic) Before we get to the reposting for this story a not so quick note. Anytime we run ANYTHING on Clay the nuts come out of the woodwork with propaganda and conspiracy theories either for or against him. Both ask us to print such stories and we reject almost all due to the questionable sources. One fan emailed us about the Green Beret who made the gay accusations later recanting and saying he was paid to make the accusations by some people that have nothing better to do with their lives than hate and spread lies about Clay Aiken. Mixed in with that conspiracy theory with all the related links etc we searched trying to find the real source, is that someone was pretending to be Clay online at gay websites and tricked the accuser (who claimed to have had an actual sexual encounter with Aiken). The fan who emailed us offered up a link to 3rd or 4th generation reposting of what are reported to be screen captures of an online chat where the accuser recanted. This Aiken fan/blogger stated that "screen captures don't lie". However, anyone with minimal photoshop skills can create what was presented and since a source of these captures was not really provided (eg where the chat took place etc etc - may have been on the 1st generation posting but not on the ones provided) and the fact that even if they were actual screen captures anyone can pretend to be anyone online so they do not offer proof. They very well may be legitimate but there is no way to validate them. So digging a little further and trying to find a non-Aiken fan page or blog where this recanting was reported and we could not. A LexisNexis search returned nothing. A google web and news search only returned Aiken fansite and blog reports. That being said if any Aiken fans have a legitimate source for a recanting by the accuser eg a real statement etc., we would be more than happy to report it but what has been sent to us can't be verified for accuracy. And yes, as a few have emailed us, Tabloids are notoriously inaccurate and bias stories for sensational reasons that's why if we do use a tabloid source for a story it is ALWAYS sourced so people know to take the story with not only a gain of salt but a pound. People will believe whatever they want to at the end of the day. On the other hand a tabloid that knowingly prints a false story is open to litigation. If a story seems legitimate and newsworthy we will report it. We have reported on some but by no means all of the gay accusations against Aiken. However we personally could care less if a pop star is gay or not and are not out to get anyone let alone a runner up on a TV show. We are not jealous Jr. High school girls but report on stories in the music world like the following story about a church where some members reportedly had some problems with the gay RUMORS before they would allow Aiken to perform. So you can send us hate mail about the stories but the only good it really does is provide us with entertainment with how hysterical some are. And by all means if you have a positive newsworthy story send it in we will be happy to report on it. (a story about an idiot that has nothing better to do but hate Aiken and his turning up at a concert and Clay ignoring him doesn't really qualify). And for those that emailed us asking what difference would it make to Christians if Clay is gay or not, why are you asking us? Take a few minutes and go talk to a local pastor or priest and ask them why most Christians frown upon homosexuality. That's not for us to answer. Now on with the silly Clay story from this past week: If he's gay he can't play. That's what some members of a Kansas church have to say about a booking of the American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken. Contact Music has the report (so don't send us hate mail): Aiken is caught up in another gay controversy after parishioners at a church where he is set to perform a Christmas (07) concert demanded assurances the singer isn't a homosexual.
Aiken's sexuality hit the headlines last year (06) when a former Green Beret soldier revealed he had spent a night of passion with the crooner, but Aiken refused to discuss the issue when it came up in interviews. Then, fans threatened to file a class action suit against the singer if it was proven he was gay.
And now, elders at a Wichita, Kansas church want to make sure the singer is heterosexual before green-lighting plans for him to perform for their congregation on 26 November (07). - More on this story including the reported results of the Green Beret's polygraph
Click here to read today's full report
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