Clay Takes Control In Interview By Newsweek

What started out as a normal question and answer interview with Clay by Ramin Setoodeh as a Newsweek Web Exclusive quickly turned into one that shows the take-charge brilliance of one Mr. Clay Aiken.

The interview, entitled Achin' Aiken, began with questions about Clay's role in Spamalot, but then Mr. Setoodeh changed the questions to more personal questions concerning things from the past. That's when Clay took control of the situation with "I'm not going to talk about it", "I'm not going to discuss it" answers, and then finally:

What do you want to talk about?
I think we're done.

Can we talk about something fun?
No, we're done. I thought NEWSWEEK would be more reputable. I'm surprised.

But I think people are curious about it.
It was a year ago. This is NEWSWEEK. It's not the National Enquirer. I'd hate to have a job where I had to be rude to people.

We're just having a conversation.
Change the subject! I'd never take a job where I had to do something that I didn't want to do.

Then after a few more questions of no consequence, the interview was done.

Bravo Clay! Until the media learns the appropriate way to conduct an interview and the appropriate things to ask, this is exactly how Clay, and anyone, should answer these types of questions. And why wouldn't Newsweek be more interested in asking Clay really newsworthy subjects, such as about Clay's recent trip to Mexico or his very successful Golfing For Inclusion Tournament and the work of The Bubel Aiken Foundation? It seems Newsweek, in the opinion of this writer, has become more worthy of the name Newsweak!

Clay Aiken, you are one class-act guy!

Check out the rest of the interview at: Newsweek Web Exclusive