My dirty little secret

I have a confession to make.

It's something I've felt I've had to get off my chest for a while.

Ready?

Okay, here goes...

I am a Claymate.

Yeah, you read me. A Claymate. The word, which is an allusion to Hugh Hefner's bunny-girl harem relating to a fandom belonging to one of the American Idols, means this: I am mad, mad crazy for Clay Aiken.

It isn't just that I am a fan of his, but that I count myself among the many die-hard fans that are fans of his. Yes, there is a difference.

For instance, I can tell you that from the moment I saw him on American Idol, at his first audition, geeky glasses, striped shirt and all, I was rooting for him, and when he finally opened his mouth and sang "Always and Forever" by Luther Vandross, I fell out of my chair, and then began cheering for him. That's when I began to be a fan.


Share my moment.

However, I can also recall the exact moment I knew I was apart of the fandom. When I was a freshman in high school and one of my only lunch friends was a senior girl who sat in the music building hallway with me before our choir class. We'd chat about the things that interested us, music, anime, assorted geeky things (huh, maybe that's what I didn't have many friends) and then one day...American Idol. One mention of Clay, and at the end of the year, my choir teacher presented my friend and I the "I'll be the potter, if you'll be my Clay" Wacky Award. And I was proud.

So now "Handgate" has come and gone. I'll refer you all to Jeff's blog for those of you not in the know. And like a loyal trooper, I'm on his side. But not just because I'm a fan. And not just because, despite her cold and flu worries, he held her hand when they walked on to the show together.

It's because it's happened before.

Exhibit A:















That's Simon Cowell's hand, by the way.















Exhibit B:








Now, since the whole debacle and spoofing and all that, he, Kelly and even Rosie O'Donnell have reportedly made amends over what is admittedly a very silly argument that shouldn't have been as big a deal as it was.

But really, what does that say about media today if Kelly "Prom Queen" Ripa has to go and pick a fight with Clay "Choir Boy" Aiken?