Is Kelli Being Exploited?

[grania]

Let me start this by stating that I really respect Kelli. She is from a background without the advantages of many of the other contestants this year. In spite of that, she shows great respect and sense of responsibility to her non-standard family. Add to that the fact that she has a wonderful God-given talent, singing, and she is using that as a path to better herself.

I'm uncomfortable with the "Beverly Hillbillies" aspect of the way her involvement in AI is going. Kelli is in an environment she most probably had no personal contact with before this experience. She should be getting some cultural coaching and a business manager and a lawyer, so she has the skills necessary to handle fame.

I do think it's up to AI to provide some of this. At the present time, it seems that AI is using Kelli's naivete to create interest and boost ratings, and that would be exploitation.:awink:

[MusicLover]

Let me start this by stating that I really respect Kelli. She is from a background without the advantages of many of the other contestants this year. In spite of that, she shows great respect and sense of responsibility to her non-standard family. Add to that the fact that she has a wonderful God-given talent, singing, and she is using that as a path to better herself.

I'm uncomfortable with the "Beverly Hillbillies" aspect of the way her involvement in AI is going. Kelli is in an environment she most probably had no personal contact with before this experience. She should be getting some cultural coaching and a business manager and a lawyer, so she has the skills necessary to handle fame.

I do think it's up to AI to provide some of this. At the present time, it seems that AI is using Kelli's naivete to create interest and boost ratings, and that would be exploitation.:awink:


First of all, Kellie is well acquainted with the spotlight. She came in 2nd in the Miss North Carolina pageant in 2004, and she was on a televised singing contest "Gimme the Mic!" So, she's no virgin to this environment, and is in no way "naive" to the antics of the camera. She's been "dumbing up" her appearances on AI, and willfully giving AI something to talk about and promote. This girl is in NO WAY naive; she knows exactly what she's doing. I've personally seen clips from the Miss NC Pageant and "Gimme the Mic!" and her hillbilly accent is much less pronounced in the past. She's hamming it up and America is eating it up. She knows well how to manipulate to get the votes. She's no dummy. Still think she's being exploited? :awink:

[FalseIdol]

I do think it's up to AI to provide some of this. At the present time, it seems that AI is using Kelli's naivete to create interest and boost ratings, and that would be exploitation.

Yada, yada, yada. Just like the models who appear in MAXIM or PLAYBOY are being exploited correct? Baloney.

You can argue that every singer who has ever appeared on a television show is being exploited----for higher ratings. No one is taking advantage of the AI contestants, no one put a gun to their head and forced them to sign the appearance contract---which clearly states that AI can promote the contestants anyway they see fit including in ways the contestants may find unflattering.

If you're an adult and you willingingly enter into an agreement your are NOT being exploited.

[bigd13]

No, Kellie is not being exploited, she knows exactly what she's doing. It's not the shows fault in the way she acts. Considering she was in a beauty pageant, she should know something about acting graceful and not coming off as stupid or whatever, but she doesn't. Kellie continues to say and do dumb stuff all the time and I'm getting annoyed at the fact that so many people like this. She's an average singer, but no matter how she sounds, she's going to be one of the last ones left because of the act she's putting on.

[MusicLover]

In other words, she's actually being SMART by pretending to be STUPID.

[FalseIdol]

I'm still not convinced it is totally an act, it could simply be she feels comfortable enough to be herself, something she might not have had the guts to do earlier in the season.

For what's it worth, most beauty pageant contestants don't exactly come across as being rocket scientists, so I have to say I am amused when people use the Miss North Carolina pageant as "proof" that she is not so dumb.

[MusicLover]

Well, you have to do this intensive Interview process. My best friend's sister WON the 2004 Miss NC pageant. She said it was pretty grueling. And you have to show how you're helping the community and what you plan to do to to help the common good if you win. That takes a lot of thought, and the Kellie we see on TV is not capable of that much depth in thought.

[frank]

"Let me start this by stating that I really respect Kelli."

"She is from a background without the advantages of many of the other contestants this year."

"I'm uncomfortable with the "Beverly Hillbillies" aspect of the way her involvement in AI is going."

"She should be getting some cultural coaching and a business manager and a lawyer, so she has the skills necessary to handle fame."

How many times are we going to have to read about "POOR" Kellie? Disadvantaged....Hillbilly.....Not savvy in the ways of the "World"? Look, I said it before, she is a first class CON! And now to top it off she has become an embarrassment to her family and friends, as well to herself.Having said all of this, I am crusading for her to be in the final two along with Ace. Fox and Cowell deserve to have to pay one of them a million dollars. The others will do fine down the road.

[MusicLover]

Why not crusade for a GOOD cause??!!

[FalseIdol]

My best friend's sister WON the 2004 Miss NC pageant. She said it was pretty grueling. .

Yeah, sleeping with all those judges can be a real pain! :p

Hmmm, let me guess of the questions on the Miss North Carolina beauty contest entrance form:

1. What is the best way to make sure you don't expose anything you shouldn't during the swimsuit competiton?

A. Crazy glue
B. Double stick tape
C. Plastic surgery

2. For the talent competition you plan to perform

A. Juggling while standing on one leg
B. A rap version of America the Beautiful
C. Plastic surgery

3. Which of the following is most imporatnt to you:

A. World peace
B. Eradicating world hunger
C. Plastic surgery

It's amazing to me that anyone ever makes it through! :D

[MusicLover]

Hmmm, let me guess of the questions on the Miss North Carolina beauty contest entrance form:

1. What is the best way to make sure you don't expose anything you shouldn't during the swimsuit competiton?

A. Crazy glue
B. Double stick tape
C. Plastic surgery

2. For the talent competition you plan to perform

A. Juggling while standing on one leg
B. A rap version of America the Beautiful
C. Plastic surgery

3. Which of the following is most imporatnt to you:

A. World peace
B. Eradicating world hunger
C. Plastic surgery

It's amazing to me that anyone every makes it through! :D

Hey, my best friend's sister WON that pageant... She's a Chemist.

[frank]

I'm still not convinced it is totally an act, it could simply be she feels comfortable enough to be herself, something she might not have had the guts to do earlier in the season.

Falsie;
You are exactly the person that "CON-Pickler" is hoping to attract. A sympathetic heart who is able to relate and understand her "POOR SHARECROPPERS DAUGHTER ACT".
God I want her to win!

[FalseIdol]

Hey, my best friend's sister WON that pageant... She's a Chemist.

That's what we called the guy who supplied us with drugs when I was in college in the late 70's---the chemist! :D

You are exactly the person that "CON-Pickler" is hoping to attract. A sympathetic heart who is able to relate and understand her "POOR SHARECROPPERS DAUGHTER ACT".

You couldn't be more wrong Frank. I simply do not care if it is an act, nor am I sympathetic to her past.

I simply find her amusing and certainly just as talented as any number of country singers making a good living these days.

[grania]

This is interesting. Lots of good points have been made here.

If it isn't an act, she's being exploited. If it is an act, she's being helped to win, at the expense of perhaps a more deserving candidate.

Either way, you know what? I hope it ends, and AI starts emphasizing talent. Last year they did that, and the result was excellent....right to the final show.

[cloie4me]

If Kellie is being exploited its because she is exploiting herself.

[graciespeaks]

How many times are we going to have to read about "POOR" Kellie? Disadvantaged....Hillbilly.....Not savvy in the ways of the "World"? Look, I said it before, she is a first class CON! And now to top it off she has become an embarrassment to her family and friends, as well to herself.Having said all of this, I am crusading for her to be in the final two along with Ace. Fox and Cowell deserve to have to pay one of them a million dollars. The others will do fine down the road.

No matter who wins Cowell WILL make the 1 million dollars back!
I do admit that if someone like Chris wins, Simon will have higher profits.
Either way you can bet Simon Cowell is in a win\win situation and he knows it!

[buddyrj]

I do not care if she is acting or not, and I do not think she is being exploited without her consent...
The real issue is that she is really not good enough to win or even to be at the finals.
She is just still in the competition because she is a beautiful skinny country girl and make people remember Carrie Underwood...
But Carrie can sing a lot, and Kellie is only good in high notes and she is allways making the songs sound the same... I think she is even worst than Ace, because at least he is more versatile.

[frank]

I do not care if she is acting or not, ... I think she is even worst than Ace, because at least he is more versatile.

I totally agree............
Your final two Idols?
Ace and Kellie......
the winner?
Ace

[aztecgoods]

I totally agree............
Your final two Idols?
Ace and Kellie......
the winner?
Ace

I agree Ace is by far the worst out of the bunch, but I don't think that Kellie is the second worst. Not that I think she is some huge talent and she couldn't touch someone like carrie U-wood but I just think if you are crusading for the worst (if for no other reason to teach Simon a lesson to pick better contestants to begin with) you should go with probably Taylor, he's such a dork and mediocre talent at best, he or Paris would probably be the hardest to promote, certainly not Kellie, she has looks and that all american girl (fake or not it works) thing going for her. Dont get me wrong, I'm no fan of any of these lame brains, I"m just trying to help you out.

[buddyrj]

Fo sure Kellie is really easy to promote, as I said she is a white skinny blond country girl, and a lot of people prefer to buy the box than the content.
And both Taylor and Paris, sorry, have great voices and much more musical culture than Kellie. Maybe both are not so easy to promote, but I have no doubt that they have much more talent.