American Idol & AT&T....Make no mistake AT&T did not want a Gay man

[xultar]

to win a contest that they sponsor.

So, be careful when you say this whole scandal is nonsense. It is not. This is HUGE people and we need to stand by our GLBT brruvas and sistahs.
I have only seen one eppy of Idol, but when I heard this crap I stood up and took notice.

This is pretty huge people.

[Horse with no Name]

1. BEST response (explanation) I have seen to this by Chovexani

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3894001&mesg_id=3894277
But this year American Idol was about more than just a stupid karaoke show. The fundies turned it into another front for the culture wars and organized a "Beat the Fag" campaign that was sadly successful.

Pop culture influences hearts and minds far more than what goes on in state capitols and DC. A big chunk of why equal rights is more accepted now is because there is a cuddly gay woman beamed into Middle American living rooms every morning.

And now every fabulous gay kid with stars in hir eyes has those stars dimmed a little bit more because of what was done to Adam.

A hugely talented guy was conspired against because he was just too gay for primetime, that's what matters.

[xultar]

2. STRAIGHT UP!!! I couldn't believe all the people on DU who posted who cares

as it relates to this shit.

I fuckin care goddamnit, it is war on my GLBT bruvas and sistahs and I'm not gonna watch while this shit goes on. I'm even gonna put a rainbow sticker on my fuckin car.
For all intent and purposes, I'm a member of the GLBT community until we win the war against hate...and this shit comes to a fucking END!

[ejpoeta]

3. how do we know this was a conspiracy to make sure adam didn't win?

i don't see any proof of any influencing in your post.

[xultar]

4. How is AT&T going to school one group for one finalist on how to send mass SMS and not the other?

That is blatant out and out cheating. That is the proof.

[stlsaxman]

12. One more reason i'm glad i gave up my land-line years ago telling myself-

"Not ONE MORE penny to ATT from me!" I've stuck to my promise and damned glad i did! THIS is hate-based bullshit!

you can, too- www.skype.com

[Horse with no Name]

5. Here you go

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/business/media/27idol.html?_r=2&hp

LOS ANGELES — AT&T, one of the biggest corporate sponsors of “American Idol,” might have influenced the outcome of this year’s competition by providing phones for free text-messaging services and lessons in casting blocks of votes at parties organized by fans of Kris Allen, the Arkansas singer who was the winner of the show last week.

Representatives of AT&T, whose mobile phone network is the only one that can be used to cast “American Idol” votes via text message, provided the free text-messaging services at two parties in Arkansas after the final performance episode of “American Idol” last week, according to the company and people at the events.

There appear to have been no similar efforts to provide free texting services to supporters of Adam Lambert, who finished as the runner-up to Mr. Allen.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3894001&mesg_id=3894109
>>>snip
The Fox affiliate in Little Rock, Ark., reported on Wednesday that “an extraordinary number of votes” — 38 million in some reports — came from Arkansas, a state with a population of less than 3 million. That detail quickly made its way around the Internet. The station later retracted that news, saying that it was “based on incorrect information provided to one of our reporters.”

[malaise]

64. Boycott AT & T

Cancel your contracts.

[Touchdown]

71. LEAGUE at AT&T...

http://www.league-att.org/

Pretty old, but a write up on us.

http://www.metroweekly.com/community/profile.php?ak=1267

We invented the safe space program. It's been adopted by many other companies.



http://www.league-att.org/safespace/

And some people hate us and AT&T.

http://americansfortruth.com/issues/corporate-promotion/corporations/telecommunications/attAlston & Bird LLP Atlanta, GA 3

American Express Co. New York, NY 4
Ameriprise Financial Inc. Minneapolis, MN 2
AMR Corp. (American Airlines) Fort Worth, TX 6
Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. St. Louis, MO 2
Aon Corp. Chicago, IL 1
Apple Inc. Cupertino, CA 6
Arnold & Porter LLP Washington, DC 2
AT&T Inc. San Antonio, TX 3

After 16 years with this company, I can call AT&T many things, but homophobic isn't one of them.

[whistler162]

7. He didn't win ERGO it was a conspiracy!

Never seen so many supposedly "sane" people get into such a, and I will use the word, tizzy over a TV program!

Okay, maybe the Heidi/Football game controversy in 1968 comes close.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

80. Then you didn't click on the link...

on MSNBC this has been discussed... AT&T lined up phone banks for the straight, god-fearin' boring dude and twisted the vote so that Kris would win and Adam would lose.

Adam is spectacular and he was robbed. I could not believe that such a talent had been left undiscovered.

Shame on AT&T for this sham of a contest.

[slackmaster]

6. Do we know for sure that the guy who did win is not gay?

Help a straight guy who can't stand Idol out here.

[Shell Beau]

49. He is married to a woman.

I guess that doesn't have to matter, but I am going out on a limb here and say he is straight.

[schmuls]

8. I want to know if Adam really came out and said he is gay, if not,

that it must still be an assumption. I wouldn't assume it at all, unless Adam said it himself. The last season was the first complete one I have watched and I really enjoyed it. But if this was all rigged, I'll never watch it again. I wonder if that is why Simon is going to leave the show?

[saracat]

11. And what does it matter? Perception nis everything! Adam does not deny being Gay

but doesn't see it fit to comment.Kris, the winner, doesn't comment on being a heterosexual either.

[mnhtnbb]

Kris is married and appears to be very much in love with his wife.

[saracat]

39. Sooo? Whats your point? And you know the state of his emotions

and his orientation "How". Have you ever heard Kris state" I am a heterosexual"? Really? Aren't folks just "presuming" ? Just the way they "presume" with Adam? Why should Adam be obligated to state his orientation anymore than Kris?

[mnhtnbb]

48. Until proven otherwise, I consider a young man married to a woman

heterosexual. Yes, that's an assumption, but it's probably pretty reliable. I would make the assumption
that two young men (or women) married to each other were gay/lesbian. I'm sure there's a factor
of bisexuality in either heterosexual or homosexual couples. Adam is not married and did not mention either a boyfriend or girlfriend, so people speculate. So what? Is he? Isn't he? Who cares?

Link to Kris crediting his wife

http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/05/22/kris-allen-credits-his-wife-with-his-success/

I saw something else in print--might have been our local paper--where he spoke of how he was looking
forward to spending some time with his wife--the most wonderful woman in the world--or some similar phrasing. Plus, I watched the finale. He hugged his wife really tight and was clearly covering tears.

So, take what you will from it. I don't give a damn what Adam's sexual preferences are: I have a gay son.

I think it's much more important in the long run for gays/lesbians to have the same civil rights
as heterosexuals. Adam Lambert is going to have a fabulous career. He's attracted the attention
of all the people who will make that happen for him--and I suspect they don't care about his sexual preferences, either.

[saracat]

52. Really? Reliable assumption? Rock Hudson and Elton John

were once young men married to women as well. And today in Hollywood and elsewhere there are many others. I don't give a damn what anyone's orientation is( And I don't like the term "preferences" which implies people have a choice). I would support Adam on talent alone but I don't like discrimination in any form and that includes demanding anyone reveal their orientation. BTW, would it surprise you to know there are pix of Adam rather "passionately" embracing an attractive close female friend female right after his elimination? Just sayhing, never assume.

[mnhtnbb]

63. I use the term "reliable" relating to statistical significance.

Line up 100 young married male/female couples of today (not 50 or 25 years ago like Rock Hudson and Elton John)and there is some (I don't know it precisely)mathematical probability that x% will be heterosexual.
I'm guessing that x would be in the high 90's. To me, that is a reliable assumption if every time you line up 100 couples x% comes out about the same number of male/female heterosexuals.

Kris made no secret of his marriage. Adam has been coy; he has neither confirmed nor denied
his sexual orientation, preferences, identity or whatever you want to call it. Rock Hudson lived in fear
that coming out would destroy his career--and in fact, in the 1950's it probably would have. I don't think
that if Adam is gay coming out will make a damn bit of difference to his career. I don't think it mattered
to Simon, Randy, Paula or Kara. Would it have mattered to Idol viewers? To some, yes, and to others
it would not.


Will it matter to producers, agents, people who stand to make money off Adam's career? I doubt it.

[cherish44]

16. He's alluded to it but he hasn't come out and said it

There are pictures of him in a passionate embrace with another guy that have made the rounds. Personally I think he's got a much brighter future in music than Kris, gay or not, winner of AI or not...

[ohheckyeah]

59. This photo has been circulating the internet for weeks:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.theinsider.com/news/1767419_Adam_Lambert_of_American_Idol_Kissing_Another_Man&h=300&w=400&sz=28&tbnid=QX1zTiYrKjw_JM::&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dphotos%2Bof%2BAdam%2BLambert%2Bkissing%2Ba%2Bguy&usg=__sqmEzi6MgSRGut7Txrm6GxqDOoc=&ei=hbIdSvivG4q-Mqv4xckF&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image

[notesdev]

9. As long as you watch American Idol

nobody has to care a whit about what you think. So get yourself worked up about it while the powers that be rob you blind, day after day. Hopefully the day will come that something more important than a vacuous TV show commands your attention.

[xultar]

19. I don't even watch the show.

[ohheckyeah]

60. Oh please.

Can you only think about one issue on a daily basis or something?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

74. What an insulting, clueless post

People can enjoy AI and still be interested in important issues. Most AI watchers on DU are also names I recognize from the Big Forums. Unlike yours.

And, dismissing someone on the basis of their TV entertainment is ridiculous. Learn to judge teh whole person, not baseless stereotypes.

[saracat]

10. Well. I was mocked and reviled for pointing out the social signifigance

of Adam's being a contestant and the fact that the religious right openly campigned against him. The winner Kris Allen even "aked' people not to vote for him if they were voting for ANY reason, religious or otherwise.This is a huge issue but, just like foljks ignored Talk Radio, many will ignore this.

[Kahuna]

22. You were the town crier and no one listened. But it's to be expected..

that folks would come out of the woodwork to decry the injustice once it was all over. Very sad. :banghead:

[graywarrior]

13. I never watched it but I took some time to view a few YouTube vids and I'm glad he lost

He's way too good for that crap show. He'll do better on his own.

[xultar]

21. I agree. It is probably better for his career that he didn't win. But that is not the point.

[graywarrior]

35. No, the point is that gay people get treated like they are not equal and it's sickening.

It's so sickening, it's almost unreal.

[Mrs. Overall]

14. I can't believe there are DUers who think this does not matter or who are calling it a conspiracy

theory.

If AT&T organized groups to vote against a contestant because he is gay or black or hispanic or asian, etc...--that is news, whether you watch American Idol or not.

[xultar]

18. Exactly. That is why I don't post here much anymore.

[QC]

66. Lately it's like being trapped in Heathers, isn't it?

[sinkingfeeling]

24. AT & T didn't organize the groups. People in Jacksonville and Conway, AR

organized the parties to support their hometown contestant. I read that Chick-Fil-A gave away food coupons and there were raffles for prizes in Conway. I've never seen 'American Idol', but know it was a big deal here because of all the 'news' stories about Kris Whoever. Were there no voting parties for Adam?

http://www.krisallenation.com/2009/05/finale-watch-parties.html

[xultar]

25. The parties aren't the point. The fact that AT&T instructed them on how to vote is.

[Mrs. Overall]

28. Yes, and gave them free texting and instructed them how to vote multiple times.

[backtoblue]

33. Arkansas has no NFL, NBA, MLB, or anything besides the Razorbacks to "root" for.

It shouldn't be a surprise that the people of Arkansas were so excited about having someone from their state be in such a national spotlight that they voted until their fingers hurt. The communities got together and helped vote for their hometown contestant.

[Occulus]

37. My understanding, though, is that that's not what happened

What happened was, AT&T- apparently- gave instructions to one group of fans on how to send mass texts, and gave those groups free text messaging.

Apparently, they did this for one contestant, and not the other.

At the very least, if true, this probably constitutes a crime. An actual, you-have-violated-business-laws crime.

It actually a bigger deal from a business standpoint than who actually won, or whether AT&T didn't want a gay man winning, because it permanently harms the credibility of the hosts, the producers, and AT&T.

The information coming out now strongly suggests that AT&T "fixed" the vote. That they will not release a breakdown of the voting only enhances that impression. AT&T, it seems, has several questions they need to answer.

[Touchdown]

69. Did they though? Or did they just want to sell phones?

hint: Call blocking cannot be done by sales staff. That is a technical job they don't have access or the training to do, much less the permissions to enter the buildings.

I, on the other hand have dropped thousands of calls... when I was trying to fix equipment. It happens, no conspiracy, no prejudice, no malice, just mistakes.

Where is the proof that calls were blocked?

[mnhtnbb]

15. The Idol "title" is irrelevant to future career. Sure there are some guaranteed

contracts and bookings, but it is the exposure to the industry that counts.

Adam Lambert is going to have a very big career, and it's not going to mean a damn thing
that he didn't win the title. He knows it.

He has attracted the attention of lots and lots of players in the music business. That's what is important.

[notesdev]

61. Arguably 2nd place is the better prize

The winner gets tied down to all sorts of contract obligations, whereas the runner-up is a free agent; yet the negotiating position of both rises dramatically in the process of the contest.

[annabanana]

65. Perhaps... but that is irrelevant to the fixing of the contest. . n/t

[Tommy_Carcetti]

17. Um.....or maybe people just didn't like Adam Lambert all that much.

Not everything is a conspiracy. Dude had a decent voice but came off a bit pretentious for many people in how he styled the songs. His "Ring of Fire" was cringeworthy.

[Ioo]

20. AT&T Only union cell phone shop - NT

[Raster]

23. "Homophobia is GAY"?

[Neecy]

30. exactly

I have a sister who works for AT&T - union shop, great benefits, pay is decent. She's never mentioned that it was a homophobic place to work, and she's attuned to such issues.

[Occulus]

38. Ya wanna get rid of the sig pic, there, Sparky?

You might think it's cutely ironic, but it's not.

[gbate]

45. I guess you didn't see his post about his marriage.

He is gay. Why does it bother you so much?

[Occulus]

56. Because he should know better. n/t

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

75. So what? It's still offensive, and what we're working against

[dem629]

51. You first.

[Occulus]

55. If I had one, that would make sense n/t

[whopis01]

76. Why don't you pick your fights with the enemy instead?

It is very obvious what his intentions are and that they are good. It might not be the way you go about things, but he is working towards the same goal.

It really is the thought and the point behind the words that is important. It is obviously meant to be attention getting and possibly offensive - but that's the whole point of it. To draw attention to something offensive. Once we start going around telling people what words they should and should not use to express their thoughts and concerns, we might as well do away with free speech altogether.

From their website:

"We are not advocating the use of the word "gay" as a derogatory term. Instead we are using the fact that it is used so widely in this context to demonstrate how common homophobia is. The word "gay" is therefore being used ironically. We have found that this slogan captures people's attention and allows our voice to be heard better than were we to just call the campaign "Stop Homophobic Bullying" or something similar. "

[dem629]

26. AT&T sneaks into my house at night and steals food out of my fridge.

This is pretty huge people.

[snooper2]

27. You sure about that...how you reconcile that theory with-

the fact that AT&T provides their employees in same-sex relationships benefits just like everyone else?



:eyes:

[Stuckinthebush]

36. What? Facts are messy aren't they?

Great post :thumbsup:

[Hepburn]

29. American Idol is bullshit except....

...that was my first thought when I heard about what AT&T did. Seemed very homophobic to me.

JMHO

[book_worm]

31. Do you have proof? or is it that Kris inherited a lot of third place shower Danny Gokey's vote

and that is how Kris won. Also, I believe that there may be a backlash against somebody who is considered the judges pets who the judges week after week predicted would win.

[ecstatic]

32. You don't watch AI (except for one eppy), but seem

to know all about it? There is an upset (i.e., expected winner losing) almost every season. I don't get how people who don't watch the show are now experts on it.

[xultar]

43. Didn't say I was an expert. And for god sake this shit is in the news.

[xultar]

44. double post

[Stuckinthebush]

34. I really think this is much ado about nothing

I seriously doubt that AT&T parties with a few phones caused Kris to win.

I stand by my GLBT friends, but many say the same thing. This is not about Adam being gay. This is about millions of pre pubescent and teenage girls calling madly to get that "cute boy Kris" the win.

Idol would never have pushed so hard to have Adam win if they (or AT&T) wanted him to lose it in the end. Kris won because the people who vote the most are young girls who thought Kris was cute.

[saracat]

40. Not true. Idol demographis show "older " females 30+ constitute most

of their vote. They no longer have much "tween" vote. And for whatever reason most of that demographic supported Adam. But the Church organizations, combined with AT%T made a huge difference.

[Stuckinthebush]

47. I don't know if that is true

I know some 30+ women vote, but they vote once. The tweens and teens vote often.

Also, I never heard about any church based push against him. I'm sure there were some idiots who voted against him because of his sexuality, but that had to be minuscule in the grand scheme of things.

Also, Kris really does have a better pop recording voice than Adam. I think that may have influenced votes.

[Javaman]

41. The current AT&T used to be Southwestern Bell, a massive contributor to the repukes. nt

[dembotoz]

42. reluctant to blame AT&T

I used to sell ATT ld to small buisiness in wisconsin.
In a couple of small towns about 1 hour out of Milwaukee, I was literally threatend
repeatedly because these folks were hearing from there clown ass conservative preachers that
"ATT was supporting the FAGGOT agenda" what ever the hell that meant....

If you are concerned about rigging.......
who has the more to gain from a victory of someone more mainstream.....
Could it be Fox???????????????????????????????????????????????

AT&T just wants you to vote and vote and vote
because ATT has lots and lots of cell phones out there in the hands of kids.
and when they text it in, ATT makes $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Follow the money

[mnhtnbb]

46. Follow the money applies equally to AT&T and how well Adam will do

in the music business without regard to whether he won the AI title.

Adam is going to do very, very well.

[pdx_prog]

50. SNIFF....SNIFF....Peeeeww...

That a dead horse I smell?

Get over it already people.

I think they should have axed the guy after the "Ring of Fire" disaster. All he did was scream a million and one falsetto high notes week after week. No personality, no versatility and no warmth in his voice whatsoever.

As a front man for a rock group the guy would kick ass....as a marketable solo singer he doesn't have the right stuff.

[saracat]

53. LOL. ITunes downloads and top 100 chartings don't agree with you!

Nor does his official fan site that was so overloaded it crashed. It had 250,ooo members in its first day!

[Touchdown]

70. Popularity in music is not an indication of talent.

Remember Huey Lewis?:puke:

[Inspired]

62. I thought Ring of Fire was HOT and it is downloaded on my iPod.

Along with all the other Adam Lambert songs from AI.

To each his own I guess.

[Initech]

54. Tin foil hats... $5!!!!

Holy shit, it's a TV show! Yeesh, it's not some huge fucking conspiracy. :yoiks:

[EFerrari]

57. We should just forget about it because teevee has no influence on our culture.

:)

[Touchdown]

58. As a gay man working for AT&T, I can tell you that you are so off the mark.

16 years and not one ounce of discrimination, but a few peer disciplines for telling fag jokes, including an "invitation to retire".

What dark crevice of your ass did you pull this out of?

[NYCGirl]

67. This Year’s American Idol Finale Probably No More Fixed Than Usual

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/05/this_years_american_idol_final.html

Scandal! Last Tuesday night, "representatives of AT&T," a corporate sponsor of American Idol, may have provided free cell phones and free text-messaging service at two Arkansas parties at which fans of Kris Allen were in attendance, according to an explosive story in today's New York Times. Just how deep does this conspiracy run? Says an AT&T spokesman: "In Arkansas, we were invited to attend the local watch parties organized by the community. A few local employees brought a small number of demo phones with them and provided texting tutorials to those who were interested." Assuming that by "small number" he means "several million" and by "texting tutorials" he means that these diabolical retail employees were somehow able to disconnect the cell-phone service of all Adam Lambert fans in a dozen large cities, this still probably wouldn't have had any impact on a vote that was reportedly not even close anyway. Explosive!

[Touchdown]

68. Journalistic speculation. That's new.

:crazy:

[NYCGirl]

73. The OP is speculation, and has little to do with journalism. NT

[Touchdown]

77. I had to read it twice to get the satire..

:dunce:

I agree with you. This is silly.

[Hannah Bell]

72. i doubt the corporation gives a rip, personally. they want whatever

makes them money.

[RB TexLa]

78. I've never heard it called AT&T American Idol or American Idol presented by AT&T.

If they sponsor that, they aren't getting their money's worth.

[Feron]

79. There is no scandal.

If the Times writer had any sense of Idol history, he’d know that AT&T rep-attended Idol parties have been going on for years. I remember hearing about reps helping Elliot Yamin and Taylor Hicks fans text back in Season 5.

The Times goes on to note that “there appears to have been no similar efforts to provide free texting services to supporters of Adam Lambert, who finished as the runner-up to Mr. Allen.”

Appears to have been? Did the Times reporter even attempt to check it out? And even if there were no AT&T reps present at any Adam Lambert viewing parties, I don’t think we’ve got a story here unless it’s proven that AT&T willfully avoided helping out the fans of other Idol contestants.

It’s business as usual for Idol sponsors, AT&T, who attend these Idol viewing parties hoping to sell more phone services. No big conspiracy theories here. And anyway, I highly doubt a couple of phone salespeople showing some Kris Allen fans how to text vote made a difference in last week’s results.

But, now that the Times has covered it, watch as this non-story explodes on the news cycle in the next couple of days…

http://mjsbigblog.com/new-york-times-throws-fuel-on-the-fire-of-crazy-fan-conspiracy-theories.htm

As for the 38 million votes from Arkansas report, the station retracted it:

Based on incorrect information provided to one of our reporters, FOX16 News reported Wednesday night, an extraordinary number of votes came in from Arkansas to American Idol.

AT&T spokesman Ted Wagnon told us today, "AT&T does not divulge or confirm how many votes were cast in any state."

We apologize for the error.

http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story/Conway-reacts-to-Kris-win/sv8BNSsGY0G8GRZWSr0fRw.cspx

Anyway you slice it, your conspiracy theory makes no sense. Why allow a contestant you don't want to advance to the finals? Why allow the judges to talk up and pimp Adam at every opportunity if you don't want him to win?

Everytime a contestant gets voted off the show, there are always bitter fans that claim that the show is rigged. Adam won by gaining exposure and I'm certain that he'll have a great career without the AI title.