David Cook is hoping he can convince his fans to show a little more respect for boundaries so that he can continue to be as accessible to his fans as the AI stars are known to be.
On Sunday, the 25 year old winner of Season 7 posted this request on his MySpace blog...
Sunday, March 22, 2009
ATTENTION!
Hey everyone,
First off, I want to say thank you to everyone who has been coming out to the shows since my last post. The vibe at these shows has been amazing.
Secondly, I have to address some behavior that has become disturbing. We pride ourselves on being accessible to you as fans, but in contrast, we do enjoy what little privacy we can muster. To that end, the efforts by some fans to find our hotel rooms, call our hotel rooms, attach things to our bus, etc., is something I have to condemn. This relationship only works when it remains healthy for both parties, and should this behavior continue, the only thing we can do is take more preventative measures to maintain our privacy, which in turn makes us less accessible to you.
I hope this doesn't come off as harsh. I merely want to nip this in the bud so we can continue to have a great experience with all of you at the shows we have coming up. Take care and see you at the next show.
~D
What an impressive young man. He loves and appreciates his fans, he wants to continue to be able to interact with them, but he sees the boundaries starting to blur between expectations and entitlement, and wants to be clear on what he finds unacceptable.
I don't know if David is just a quick learner and saw himself becoming a hostage, if he was smart enough to watch and learn from some of the guys who have gone before him and fallen victim to having not spoken out when it happened to them, or if he actually thinks it is going to be as simple as just posting this blog and the fans will have that "ah ha" moment where they realize how unreasonable they were being and suddenly respect his "down time".
Note to David .... I hope you are not counting too much on the last one.
The great thing about the AI machine is that you have some loyal, supportive, incredible fans who love you, who will follow you from tour stop to tour stop. Who suddenly, at the age of 50, will learn how to make a video or create a web page, or become proficient in the music industry lingo. They will take it as their personal responsibility to ensure your success and without ever thinking twice, will, for some reason they can never explain, grab up 10 copies of your new CD.
But the part you didn't see .... the part you missed with some of your "fans" is that they actually dialed that second number when they voted for you. The one that indicated "by David counting my vote he will forever 'owe' me because I am the reason for his success, and he will from this day forward be chattel".
As I am sure to come under fire as overly critical or insulting, I will give you some insight into two of the most egregious abuses of an artist's privacy that I know to have occurred within the AI fan base.
Several years ago, one of the AI artist's father passed away, and for a number of reasons, it was going to be a rather strained and hard time. Several of the fans decided it would be perfectly appropriate for them to attend the funeral, of course, standing back a bit because they certainly wanted to observe proper decorum for a total stranger fan at someone's funeral for their parent. They even said they felt he would find some comfort in their presence.
We just recently were made aware that one of Taylor Hicks' AI fans who happens to live in the Birmingham area and work for a government agency decided that since he was, after all, a celebrity, that any information a fan could obtain on him they were entitled to. It was this logic that led the fan to decide they would use their job to access Taylor's parent's legal records. I cannot imagine a more callous lack of respect or violation than prying into something that personal.
So David, I guess you can see why I am somewhat cynical that such a pure and respectful attempt on your part is going to fix your problem, but boy am I rooting for you. I've seen what can happen, and once they do sense "control", you can never get it back without becoming "ungrateful" or "not needing them anymore".
What I hope most for you is that if your request isn't respected that you give yourself permission to actually do what you said and step back, put some barriers in place, and manage to hold on to just a piece of your life. You deserve it.
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8 comments:
I saw David's blog and I wish him luck. I doubt it will be that easy to get the more "invested" fans to back off. I'm sure the ones who read it didn't even recognize that he was addressing them.
Certainly Taylor has been on the receiving end of some of this same behavior. But the news of someone gaining access to his parent's divorce records absolutely floors me. How on earth does someone rationalize doing something like that?
The votes I cast for Taylor gave me no special rights. I voted for him to ensure that he would continue to be able to make music, and I would continue to be able to enjoy it. That's it. It's a sad fact that, for some, that will never be enough.
Nice blog, Evancol.
You're right. There's something about casting those votes that makes some fans feel they own a piece of the artist.
When I hear these stories it makes me so sad. Some of these AI contestants wind up giving up so much more than they bargained for. It's a shame.
I find it so terribly disturbing that people cannot maintain an honorable 'two-way' street in relationships. Taylor has given us far & beyond what most celebrities would even consider. Shouldn't we be expected to do the same for him?
His giving spirit is enormous & it shows each time he performs; participates in an interview; takes part in charity work ~ I need not go on. Why are not some willing to show him the same type of 'giving spirit'? Are some so delusional in believing because their votes secured Taylor's AI title; or because they purchase his music, or attend concerts etc. that they have the belief they 'own' him? OH~the drawbacks of acheiving your dreams.
As he has repeatedly stated; he knows he has been blessed; even with the cost he has & continually pays concerning limited precious personal time. That is somethig We can give him.
For us, there is no cost; just rewards in abundance.
This woman who has done the unspeakable act of retrieving his parent's divorce records, should be repromanded. Wouldn't that be considered a violation of privacy? It's sad that some people would stoop so low!
What ever happened to 'Integrity'!
This puzzle will probably never be solved. There will always be those who feel entitled and special because they believe they are being helpful and that they are working only to promote Taylor. In this information age , anything they can find out about Taylor will be appreciated by the fans and is beneficial ; keeping Taylor and his music on the internet front burner.
Poppycock !! Needing something and wanting it are two different things. While Taylor may need the support of his established fan base, he does not want their invasion of his privacy. Our votes on Idol were to guarantee that his music would "be heard" not that we would become part of his "inner circle of friends".
Let's just enjoy the voice , the music and the performances and let the speculations, fan involvement with his business associates and band mates and over zealous behavior cease and desist.
There are celebrities that relish the spotlight and seem to need the constant attention and adulation. Taylor is not one of them.
Intruding in his life when we have lives of our own is not warranted nor necessary .
cath
The line between 'fan' and 'fanaticism' is a narrow one.
Wow. I read David's blog, and commended him for coming out about this issue. Stalking is a scary reality for so many celebrities these days.
This is the first I've heard of this Taylor situation. To be perfectly honest it made me a bit nauseous. How does someone even justify that kind of logic?
Whomever it was, should be called out publicly and if there is proof- charges should be brought up by Taylor and all parties involved.
People joke about the "crazy list" but, I truly hope that there is one. Things like this can spiral out of control quickly.
It must take great resolve to have your every move watched by papparazzi, fans, and haters. Taylor once said that Keb Mo told him…”You gotta love it.” We know how much Taylor loves his music and entertaining. It is a tragedy that he cannot do what he loves and share with us what is his life without having his private life callously invaded.
I, too, am rooting for David. I’m also rooting for Taylor Hicks. He so richly deserves his success and his private life.
This is the most precious gift we can give to Taylor—respect for his wishes and his privacy and space. This is how we give back to someone who has given so much to us.
It is a shame when an artist cannot enjoy what they have worked so hard to earn, without his fans feeling they are entitled to pry into his every moment. Does their "vote" mean they are included in every piece of info about him and have a right to dis him when they can't get it? Does it mean that every time the man steps out on the street, for filming commercials or just a quick bite to eat or when he offers the gift of his performance and asks that it not be recorded...that because fans VOTED for him, they are entitled to invade and disrespect him as a person and an artist? Yes, the media follows him everywhere and sticks their camera in his face, but do we as fans have the respect to refrain from this and let the man have some life?
I am so glad to see David speak up on this. He is brave, if also naive, and I hope he receives some of the privacy and respect of boundaries he seeks. I hope fans of other artists read this and realize that they are not endearing themselves to the artist with this type of invasive behavior.
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