Brian
11-16-2003, 04:21 PM
In a new rabble-rousing PETA ad, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog seems to be implying that "American Idol" star and "Measure of a Man" recording artist Clay Aiken has a little bit less "man" to measure.
The new ad features Conan O'Brien's favorite canine puppet swathed in a protective post-surgery collar (but still smoking his trademark cigar) with a bandage on the place where his private parts would be if Triumph had private parts.
"Get Neutered," the spot reads. "It didn't hurt Clay Aiken."
According to a statement on the web site for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the organization signed off on the poster, part of its campaign to raise awareness for animal overpopulation, in response to the North Carolina-based singer's recent statements in Rolling Stone.
"I think cats are Satan," The "American Idol" runner-up declared. "There's nothing worse to me than a house cat. When I was about 16, I had a kitten and ran over it."
While any true Aiken fans know that the felinicide was accidental and that it filled Aiken with grief, PETA is less-than-humorless on the subject, stating that "PETA deals with dozens of cases of cruelty to cats every week and knows firsthand how damaging statements like this can be -- impressionable kids often mimic what their 'idols' do."
The animal rights group, whose ads are frequently targets of controversy, failed to offer statistics to support the idea that thousands of teenage girls have been sacrificing kittens in Aiken's name. PETA Director Daphna Nachminovitch expresses hope that while the Triumph ad may produce anger, it can also save lives.
"Triumph's big mouth may rub some people the wrong way, but his message in our new spay/neuter ad is right on the money," Nachminovitch says. "It's a case where a 'stitch in time saves nine' -- or 90 -- unwanted animals from a life of misery."
Aiken's representatives seemed confused by the entire affair.
"This is what PETA is using as their slogan? I don't get it," an Aiken spokesperson tells the New York Daily News. "I'm taken aback by this a little bit. Is this a joke? I thought their whole idea is to reach out to millions of people -- half of which are Clay Aiken fans."
The true victim in this situation may be Triumph. If the ad is to be believed, Triumph may find much less to enjoy next time he visits the Westminster Dog Show. Without the pooch's family jewels, might the impact of hits like "Underage Bichon" be somewhat diminished?
The dog, who has an unnaturally close relationship with comic Robert Smigel, is currently promoting his debut album "Come Poop with Me."
The new ad features Conan O'Brien's favorite canine puppet swathed in a protective post-surgery collar (but still smoking his trademark cigar) with a bandage on the place where his private parts would be if Triumph had private parts.
"Get Neutered," the spot reads. "It didn't hurt Clay Aiken."
According to a statement on the web site for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the organization signed off on the poster, part of its campaign to raise awareness for animal overpopulation, in response to the North Carolina-based singer's recent statements in Rolling Stone.
"I think cats are Satan," The "American Idol" runner-up declared. "There's nothing worse to me than a house cat. When I was about 16, I had a kitten and ran over it."
While any true Aiken fans know that the felinicide was accidental and that it filled Aiken with grief, PETA is less-than-humorless on the subject, stating that "PETA deals with dozens of cases of cruelty to cats every week and knows firsthand how damaging statements like this can be -- impressionable kids often mimic what their 'idols' do."
The animal rights group, whose ads are frequently targets of controversy, failed to offer statistics to support the idea that thousands of teenage girls have been sacrificing kittens in Aiken's name. PETA Director Daphna Nachminovitch expresses hope that while the Triumph ad may produce anger, it can also save lives.
"Triumph's big mouth may rub some people the wrong way, but his message in our new spay/neuter ad is right on the money," Nachminovitch says. "It's a case where a 'stitch in time saves nine' -- or 90 -- unwanted animals from a life of misery."
Aiken's representatives seemed confused by the entire affair.
"This is what PETA is using as their slogan? I don't get it," an Aiken spokesperson tells the New York Daily News. "I'm taken aback by this a little bit. Is this a joke? I thought their whole idea is to reach out to millions of people -- half of which are Clay Aiken fans."
The true victim in this situation may be Triumph. If the ad is to be believed, Triumph may find much less to enjoy next time he visits the Westminster Dog Show. Without the pooch's family jewels, might the impact of hits like "Underage Bichon" be somewhat diminished?
The dog, who has an unnaturally close relationship with comic Robert Smigel, is currently promoting his debut album "Come Poop with Me."