Clay, Remolded

Posted Mon May 5, 2008 2:30pm PDT by Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks

So the new Clay Aiken publicity photo landed in my inbox today...

Yikes.

Now, keep in mind that I expected Clay to look, well...different.

After all, lately Clay has undergone enough makeovers to rival his fellow quickchange diva Madonna.

For instance, there was that brunette K.D. Lang shag he rocked at the season 5 American Idol finale, when he shocked his "lookalike" idolizer Michael Sandecki as well as the entire Fox viewing audience.

Then he packed on about 30 pounds of body fat (inspiring nasty nicknames like "Clay Bacon" and "Clay Tummy-Achin'"), and probably twice that weight in spackled-on makeup, for his role in Broadway's Spamalot.

And still, when I unwittingly checked my email this morning like I do on any uneventful Monday, I was in no way prepared for Clay's latest look.

Take a deep breath and scroll down:

Oh, my Aiken eyes!

Sorry, I don't mean to be cruel. I love me some Clay. Really, I do. But this photo frightens me.

So what do you think of Clay 3.0? Post your thoughts below--and try not to spamalot, OK?

9922 Comments

61. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 6:10am PDT

Good luck Clay.

Report abuse

62. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 6:11am PDT

Thanks LP for the update on Clay. I hope you will write another charity story soon too. Love ya girl!!!

63. Jessica - Tue May 6, 2008 6:13am PDT

I like it shorter better than longer, and his voice is so amazing, I don't care what he looks like..

64. susiQ - Tue May 6, 2008 6:28am PDT

If I were Clay and had to put up with all of the nasty remarks about my hair color, weight (he was way too skinny on AI), etc. I would go back to teaching but that would be a tremendous loss for the hundreds of thousands of fans who recognize an extremely talented guy. The new CD is amazing - just too bad that so many chat rooms and blogs have to bring out the ugly in people who happen to not have any talent.

65. jj - Tue May 6, 2008 7:10am PDT

HE WOULD LOOK NICE IF IT WEREN'T FOR ALL THAT MAKEUP, I LIKE HIM BETTER SINCE HE GAINED SOME WEIGHT. HE LOOKS HEALTHIER. I DO LIKE THE HAIR.

66. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 7:44am PDT

AS #73 said: "Thanks LP for the update on Clay. I hope you will write another charity story soon too. Love ya girl!!!"

67. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 7:50am PDT

I think he's purdy. I like him.

68. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 7:50am PDT

Hope he is happy on the inside. That's what is important eh. ;)

69. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 7:51am PDT

Thanks for the update LP. I know you adore him. But I disagree and think he is lovely at any time. *smile* I luv ya though.

70. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 7:52am PDT

The story on charity would be a great idea. Right down your ally, lovely lyndsey too.

71. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 7:53am PDT

I like the latest pic. Too skinny on Idol and seems more at peace now. I liked it when he and Ruben were the final two for many reasons, including the fact that they didn't give into the so-called image of Idol. The "fat guy" as Ruben said and the "skinny guy" as Ruben said made it to the final 2.

72. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 7:54am PDT

As long as he is happy...

73. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 8:23am PDT

I think he looks better here then he did on "are you smarter then a 5th grader"...anyone agree?

74. DANGEROUS! - Tue May 6, 2008 8:54am PDT

i say everyone in changes their look sometimes in their life who cares

75. J. - Tue May 6, 2008 9:49am PDT

I agree, Clay Aikens is Clay Aikens. However I must admit that this is the "Best" look he's had!
Just the same, may he laugh all the way to the bank. People are so quick to judge without looking in "Their" mirror! What about looking into one's "Inner" mirror?

How do you rate?
If you lost your face today, would it change who you are as a "Person?"
That's what's important, the inside:-)

76. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 10:09am PDT

Every body leave him alone, I think this is the best he's ever looked since day one of auditions on American Idol. Some of you are blind. Don't know much about his backround, but he seems to be an alright person and a good singer too. I always thought he should have come in first and Ruben Studdard second, even though their both good singers. Oh well, that's my opinion, of course. People are always so critical of everyone. Just look at the person for themselves, and don't criticize.

77. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 10:24am PDT

He's probably done the best with what God gave him. For me, he is nice. I love his voice and his persistence. Also liked his year as two guys who didn't fit the hunk image were in the finale. Ruben and Clay have talked a lot about this since. Also, I enjoyed the other articles about him, re: the fact that he says "I am no Justin Timberlake." LOL. Thanks for the column LP.

78. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 10:24am PDT

Love you Lynds.

For your readers, FTI:
~~~
Title "Clay Aiken says he's no Justin Timberlake and isn't going to try"
~~~
By Erin Carlson, The Associated Press
~~~
From http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080505/entertainment/music_clay_aiken_1
~~~

Thanks #19 for the above BTW.

79. Lindy V - Tue May 6, 2008 10:25am PDT

He looks plastic...

80. Yahoo! Music User - Tue May 6, 2008 10:40am PDT

So Ms Parker, how many times have you changed your look over the last 5 years? Why is it so strange for a guy to want to change their look? FYI, this current color of Clay's is pretty close to his natural strawberry blonde color.

As for the 30 pounds, he did not pack it on FOR Spamalot, he gained the weight as a result of taking anti-anxiety meds, a fairly common side effect of those kinds of drugs. Wouldn't YOU have to take anti-anxiety medication if journalistic tools constantly held you up to public scrutiny with these utterly inane and unfounded accusations? He lost most of that weight as a result of his rigorous performances on the Spamalot stage. Me thinks you can't help but find yourself attracted to The Aiken, and the idea of your attraction to him frightens you.

As for spackled on makeup, it's STAGE makeup you moron.

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