Spring Break
And the award goes to ... Carmen Rasmusen
Paul Bremer
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: Opinion
|
Taking that sadism one step further, many like to envision that our miserable, unfortunate "Idol" rejects disappear into a lyric wasteland littered with bitterness and damaged egos. TMZ claims Season 2 sixth place finisher Carmen Rasmusen is the latest contestant stranded in post-idol limbo.
The folks at TMZ.com accused Rasmusen of being a "crybaby" in response to an article she had written in "The Deseret News." Rasmusen writes a weekly column for the Utah paper offering insight into the "AI" process. In her April 18 article she discussed how some contestants, Clay Aiken in her season, receive special treatment from producers and vocal coaches if it's believed they have a stronger chance of winning.
TMZ featured an unflattering picture of the singer on the Web site and said she "went on the attack."
It just so happens that I am a huge Carmen Rasmusen fan. I watched her on the show and have carefully been following her music career ever since. And while my defense may seem biased, I would argue that it is, on the contrary, more well informed than the claims made by TMZ.
I've seen Rasmusen in interviews, read her columns, and have learned over the years her true feelings for "American Idol." She has continually maintained her thanks and gratitude for being given an opportunity that has helped her break ground in the music industry. She has also made it quite clear she has a strong "brotherly" bond with Clay Aiken in particular, and is nothing short of thrilled for the success he has had.
It's easy for TMZ to target Rasmusen. After all, for a tabloid gossip site masquerading as legitimate entertainment news, this is just the sort of story that a reporter would seize and print without talking to sources for comment or doing background research. It also doesn't help her case that Rasmusen has yet to break into the mainstream. So naturally, as "professional journalists," TMZ assumes she must be harboring jealousy and hatred, as opposed to simply sharing factual information from personal experience.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Me
posted 4/30/08 @ 1:33 AM CST
I totally agree!
js
posted 4/30/08 @ 6:47 AM CST
TMZ is nothing but a load of crap gossip show. They don't bother to check for facts, and the stretch the stories into worse falsehoods than they start out to be. (Continued…)
average schmoe
posted 4/30/08 @ 8:38 PM CST
"They are only presenting the type of "juicy" stories that the market wants to hear."
Paul,
Here's where you're mistaken. As an "average" woman from an "average" demographic, I am NOT at all interested in the crap that TMZ spews. (Continued…)
Gia
posted 4/30/08 @ 10:29 PM CST
I agree, TMZ made it look like Carmen was not happy with what Clay has accomplished. However, to be truthful, her singing was not all that great on idol. (Continued…)
Post a Comment