For a guy named for a profession that involves lots of shushing, Usher sure doesn’t know when to just shut up. Rather than let the controversy surrounding his recent career moves (firing his manager mom, getting engaged after impregnating his fiancé, possibly threatening a radio host) dissipate in time, Usher has opted to publish an open letter justifying his actions and requesting privacy. But rather than posting the letter on his Web site, where only the most rabid Usherphiles would read and understand it, Usher went to People magazine, thus exposing his life to a far larger audience.
Usher joins a long list of artists who have penned open letters, with mixed results. So here’s our open letter to rock stars thinking about writing open letters: Don’t do it. They’re petty, they rarely accomplish their intended goal and they stick around in our memories forever. Need proof?
- Britney Spears, fresh from rehab, posted an open letter on her Web site thanking her fans for sticking with her through all her problems. This letter was supposed to signify a new, less-likely-to-shave-her-head Britney. It’s no coincidence that the open letter has since been removed from her page.
- After facing a media firestorm regarding her questionable adoption of a Malawi boy, Madonna (writing under the pseudonym Madonna Ritchie) issued a statement in the form of an open letter clarifying her intent and her method of adoption.
- Who can forget the infamous open letter by Metallica from the early stages of their battle versus Napster? The best line is a toss-up between “All of us would be perfectly happy serving fried food or mopping the floors of adult entertainment establishments except for the fact that we’d be taking jobs from our fans” and “We have millions of dollars going to convince you that we don’t suck.”
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- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC.
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