Clay Aiken Donors Claim They Were ‘Duped’ Into Appearing in Docuseries

Remember how Clay Aiken was running for Congress in North Carolina and lost? Well, at the very least, Aiken can console himself with the new documentary series from Esquire that they’d been filming for during the course of the campaign.

At one point during the campaign, Aiken attended a fundraiser at the home of actor/producer Steve Tyler. A lot of donors were there and wrote checks for Aiken’s campaign. There were cameras there capturing candid moments, but the donors are upset, complaining to Tyler that they were “duped” into appearing in the series and objecting to any footage of them being used.

As Tyler relayed to FrontierLA, everyone who signed releases was told the footage would be part of a BBC series that would not air in the United States. And, well, Tyler isn’t too happy about Aiken “personally benefitting” from all the support he had to corral for his campaign.

He even sent a letter to Aiken to ask the footage be stricken from the documentary. Here’s part of what it reads:

I have received calls from many supporters at the LA fundraiser all demanding that the LA event not be included in your TV show, as the crew misrepresented use of the filming. It is obvious you had this TV deal prior to the votes being tabulated as GOOD MORNING AMERICA announced the deal just hours after votes were barely in.

On a personal level, I worked very hard convincing people of your integrity, viability and the need for them to donate. It all reflects badly on my credibility amongst donors because of your actions. Now it looks like I deceived donors.

I do hope you realize this prevents you from ever running again for an elected office. You will no longer be credible as someone that wants to help the public more than your need for fame.

[h/t AVClub]
[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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