<![CDATA[Gawker: defamer, broken hearts]]> http://tags.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gawker.com.png <![CDATA[Gawker: defamer, broken hearts]]> http://gawker.com/tag/defamer/brokenhearts http://gawker.com/tag/defamer/brokenhearts <![CDATA['Claymates' React With Shock to Startling New Revelation That Clay Aiken Is Gay]]> While not everyone is surprised by Clay Aiken's decision to come out of the closet (speaking to Extra, Simon Cowell said dryly, "It's like being told Santa Claus isn't real"), there is one sort of person who's had to take the workday off to burn Anthropologie candles and listen to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on repeat, and she is the "Claymate." Aiken's most ardent fans are predictably in a lather about the revelation, with reactions running the gamut of the Kübler-Ross cycle of grief (albeit with more emoticons).

strollynn63: This is a gut wrenching day for The ClayNation. Somebody wake me up, I hope its a dream.

More reactions from The Clayboard, after the jump:

Holmes24: please tell me I'm not the only one who is shocked beyond belief! I feel numb I'm so upset. This can't be real!! How can you guys say this won't change anything? This changes EVERYTHING. I don't even know what to think right now. :-(

strollynn63: I have worked with many gays, the nature of the hairdressing business... LET ME SAY THAT I'M STILL A FAN OF HIS VOICE.....NOT SO MUCH A FAN OF HIS....CHOICE....

Some Claymates are coping with the news by predicting an elaborate conspiracy:

CLAYGAL: I don't understand the timing of all this information, or supposed information. I'm not making any assumptions until I actually see credible information . Is that actually Parker in the photo? Some of my friends think the baby looks older than a child a month old.

While others, slowly, are coming to terms with the shock:

love OMC: I had my hard time with it after the Diane Sawyer interview of 2006. I was ill over it. Then I went into denial. However, this time out (as it were), I am accepting.

Claymd4evr: My daughter called me at work today to tell me the news - I admit I cried a little...Because I strongly believed Clay was probably gay and I wanted to understand & love him better, I attended a gay & lesbian ministry workshop at a religious education conference.

Claybe 2: Why is it that the good looking ones are gay?

JNLPrecious Clay: All I know is that I love Clay, and I could never leave him. I still think he is a sexy gorgeous hunk of man, and nothing is going to change that.

While we worry that angry hairdresser "strollynn63" will take the news out on her innocent colorist Alberto, we hope that for the rest of the ClayNation, peace and acceptance will soon be close at hand. Yes, some embittered fans may defect to Aiken rival Ruben Studdard, but upon their shocking arrival at Studdard's tumbleweed-strewn message board (last message, May 2005: "Discuss Ruben's Cameo on 8 Simple Rules"), we have a feeling they'll be back.

]]> http://gawker.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5054268&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Bachelor Chooses Singledom, Depriving Finalists Of Their Hard-Earned Fake Engagement]]>
In an unprecedented move that threatens to undermine the sacred premise of future installments of ABC's blockbuster TV-matchmaking franchise The Bachelor, America's heart was cleaved in twain as Brad Womack (billed repeatedly as The Sexiest Bachelor Yet!) refused to pretend that he'd fallen for any of this season's desperate-for-companionship contestants and offer one of the show's trademark, temporary-commitment-affirming engagement rings to either finalist, walking away from the the series finale as a single man.

We invite you to relive (or live for the first time, if you had something better to watch last night) this historic and emotionally devastating moment, one that will likely be followed by Womack's immediate relocation to Los Angeles, where he can enjoy the sexual attention of countless singles who think they can finally teach the dream-destroying Texan, so obviously damaged by the manipulation of producers hoping for the usual months of free publicity from the BRAD AND DEANNA: STILL TOGETHER? People cover stories counting off the days until his sham engagement inevitably petered out, to fake-love again.

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