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John Rich and Clay Aiken Engage in Twitter Feud

John Rich, Clay AikenGetty Images

Former "Celebrity Apprentice" rivals John Rich and Clay Aiken have engaged in a nasty Twitter spat. Earlier this week, the former "American Idol" runner-up took to Twitter to discuss the Republican National Convention, posting a comment that didn't sit well with the country star.

"Playing drinking game with my brother now. We drink every time we see a black person on screen at the RNC convention. #soberasamormon," Clay tweeted.

That tweet angered a few fans online, who accused Clay of making racist claims, but it was the comments from the Big & Rich singer-songwriter that stung the most.

"You should be ashamed for racist comments like THAT! WOW," John tweeted, adding, "And to finish it off, @clayaiken hashtags soberasamormon? I thought your charity was for inclusion, not EXCLUSION. What happened?"

Clay was quick to respond, tweeting back at John, who has historically supported the Republican party, "My charity is. Why isn't your party? ;-)."

The politically-motivated debate ended there, but it hasn't stopped from continuing to anger some of the 'Idol' singer's more conservative fan base.

Do you think Clay Aiken's comments were racist, or was he making a commentary on the Republican party? Tell us on Twitter @TheBootDotCom.

Watch a Video on the Clay Aiken Twitter Controversy


See Photos of Clay and Other Idols All Grown Up


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sarah.light1

If there are only a small number of blacks at the RNC it is because thet have become dependant on the lifestyle that obama has helped to grow even larger in their communities. Most blacks would rather live off the working class than get out, get a job and be useful to their community.I see this everyday at work and they act like we as working people owe them something. There are some out there that work hard, take care of themselves and their families and care about what is actually happening to the United States while obama is president and tearing it down. In all actuality the black community would better be served with Romney as president because he cares for All Americans and not just the welfare broods in America.Clay Aikens is a nobody and deserves to be treated as such..

September 02 2012 at 8:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
fuss1

Shame on you, Clay Aiken. You know what it feels like to be put down for being gay. One would expect more from you when it comes to others. Yeah, there aren't a lot of Black people at the RNC, but that's not because they are excluded! It's because they have been sold a bill of goods for the last 50 years by the Dems, who have enslaved them in a web of dependency in exchange for their vote.

September 02 2012 at 8:11 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
dwhassoc

As a member of Academy of Country Music, I have NEVER seen John Rich sober. He is a real partier and a sloppy drunk! I always look at him and thing How the heck did he make it in this business? What a twit

September 02 2012 at 2:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
chdaley4

It wasn't racist, but it was totally ridiculous, just like he is. He made a spectacle of himself on Apprentice, first steering clear of (rightly so) Lisa Lampenelli then he had his head up her ass the rest of the show, even ganging up with her on the little model that held her own pretty well I think. He's a self serving little jerk who's had his 15 minutes of fame. Next.

September 01 2012 at 10:37 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
diamcm02

He needs to zip his lip if he has nothing nice to say, then he needs to be quiet! and the last time I checked did he not come out of the closet? be very careful with what you say about others, you would not want someone to make bias remarks about you. Good for John Rich putting him into his place.

Dina

September 01 2012 at 8:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Handsome John

What an foolish question and such an idiotic controversy. Of COURSE he was saying what he said to point out that there were VERY few African Americans at the convention. And that is TRUE. How can THAT be racist? Of course the observation wasn't racist. It was an attempt to point out that the Republicans are racists! Now some Republicans may disagree and if so they should defend themselves. But to try to take the attitude that you are not racist and the evidence is that the person accusing you of being racist is himself, a racist, is outrageous and absurd! This Rich guy can't believe it was racist. This is another example of today's Republican Party. Rich knew Aiken wasn't making a racist comment but they have advisers who tell them to "spin" things like this. To ignore reality and make up facts. Like Ryan saying Obama was responsible for the plant closure in Ryan's home town when Obama wasn't in office when it close. Or Ryan admonishing Obama for the $715 in Medicare "cuts" when Ryan himself proposed his own budget with the exact same changes to Medicare. Or Ryan being such a slug, he can't even talk about himself without lying...saying he ran a marathon in 2 hours and 50 minutes which suggests he is (was) an outstanding athlete at a professional level when he really ran it in about 4 hours which is more typical of an amateur's time. He was trying to lie his way into building up his resume by lying. And he of course, is admitting that finally when the absolute and conclusive truth was presented in writing. But that's the only time they admit their lies and even don't admit it THEN on some occasions! It's a joke. Anybody who would vote for these morons, believe anything that Rich fool says, or for that matter, watch 1 episode of that moronic television show with Donald Trump, is a fool.

September 01 2012 at 4:13 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Handsome John's comment
clifcourt

It was a raciststatement & most black people I know, including myadopted son, don't like being called African-American.

September 01 2012 at 11:06 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to clifcourt's comment
WUZZZAP?!?

I like to be called African-American. I did not think the comment was racist.

September 02 2012 at 1:05 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down
fuss1

Ever heard of paragraphs? Even if you had something worthwhile to say, who the heck wants to wade through that whole post in one paragraph? Go back to school!

September 02 2012 at 8:13 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
terryhoagland123

John Rich can't sing I had a parrot who could sing better than him.He is more of a trouble maker than a singer.I don't think Clay Aiken meant for that to be a racial remark if I did I would be upset too.

September 01 2012 at 3:46 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
deedeedeedeedeedee

So what! Clay Aiken is a FAG!

September 01 2012 at 11:09 AM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
timdderbs

Well,

Comming from North Dakota, If you're a lighter shade than "WHITE".... you tend to get jealous of others that's a "DARKER" shade than white as i've seen thoughout my time! I don't worry about it because i'm almost a white/red color myself. But if you want to RUN, Dance, SPORTS, etc... Or just be competitive, i now that the LIGHTER SHADE than white is alittle feared! So to "BOOST there SELF ESTEEM". ..They tend to do make raciest comments sometimes, but it only because it's out of fear and the dreed of having to face the competition. We know way back in the early 1900 to 1970s it was no competition for the lighter shade then white to worry about. Now "ALL" records are borken by long shots, sports teams are worth billions, movies, and business 500. It more competitions in the market these day and when some of these people look back, well... it make them feel a sense of lost control issues.
I remember in my highschool years in HISTORY CLASS how even the BOOK would be filled with lies! WELL, GUESS WHO WROTE THE BOOK??? Sine i'm a white american, i didn't complain for awhile, but knew something was missing. It was always lighter shades of white people that are the HEROS in world war 2!! THAT"S BECAUSE the DARKER SHADES THAN WHITE wasn't allowed to get a medal of VALOR, so it was giving to the lighter shade. Why you think the government is still handing out the world war 2 medals to the darkeshade the white and the vets are 80 years old now!! Even the inventors where all a lighter shade then dark! I found out AFTER high school that we "ALL" been lied to about that also! Most of those inventors had stole, cheated, copied, or murdered the darker shade than white. The darker shade didn't have to many rights back then anyway, so they where taken advantage of. The AMERICAN INDIANS when murdered also and cheatd out of there land. The chinese was murdered after they came to aamerica to build the railroad. The mexicans where murdered after they come accross the boarder illegally for work. SO, can you imagin if the history books in YOUR kids schools' start telling the truth about how HISTORY REALLY WAS????? You know how rotten, two faced, evil, cruel, back stabbing, rapiest, FRAUD, cheater, pediphile, and a LIER, the LIGHTER SHADE than dark is! So, when you hear something raciest like this from the lighter shade than dark is, just think of it as there just trying to boost there self esteem! There's no need to apologize for it! ALL SHADE Darker the the shade of white know these days...

September 01 2012 at 9:52 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
davehma

Get over it people. So many statements are taken out of context now to intentionally sensationalize the specific situation. When examined in context and critically most of the so called gaffs this campaign season are a result of taking a statement out of context resulting in hype and increase the level of rancor.
For example, there have been quite a number of sometimes silly statements made by both "dems and reps" (no capitalizations is deserved by either party). Then taken out of context by the "news media" to hype the statement. Next some politician, reporter or citizen with an agenda exclaims with righteous indignation how terrible the statement was.
This whole situation is disgusting and disgraceful.

September 01 2012 at 8:37 AM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply

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