Clay Aiken, who starred on “American Idol” almost 20 years ago, saw how generous Americans can be — especially women who threw their underwear at him.
Aiken, who is gay, is running for Congress in his home state of North Carolina. He told supporters at an event in Manhattan about those acts of “charity.”
“Every night I’d sing my song on ‘Idol’ and people would throw panties on the stage. There would be women’s underwear thrown on the stage, and there would be checks attached to the underwear,” he recounted.
By season’s end, Aiken had $50,000 worth of checks, so he started a foundation, now known as The National Inclusion Project, which helps autistic children.
If Aiken is elected, he’d be the first openly gay elected official in the South, he said in his campaign video.
“There are lots of folks whose voices are not being heard,” he said.
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Leonardo DiCaprio may have been motivated by regret when he donatedmoney to help Ukrainians in their fight against Russian invaders.
DiCaprio once mingled with Russian President Vladimir Putin over their efforts to save the Siberian Tigers. The Hollywood star braved two bad flights to make it to a 2010 event in St. Petersburg, where Putin is originally from, to hear the strongman call him “a real man.”
Putin enjoys friendships with various celebrities including Steven Seagal and Gerard Depardieu, who both have Russian passports.
There’s also Putin’s friendship with Pamela Anderson which developed after she lobbied against the clubbing of baby seals. Putin banned the bloody hunt in 2009.
DiCaprio, who might regret his association with Putin, is paying to turn the page.
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Former Russian intelligence agent Alia Roza is writing a book, “How to Seduce Like a Spy.”
The buxom beauty went to the same spy school as Putin did, although 30 years later, where she learned “sexpionage.”
“I did the training. I used it in the field. I still use it when I need to get something done,” she said. “It was a really small group. Not everyone stays until the end.”
Roza said Putin, who posed shirtless “like he’s James Bond,” seduces his subjects so they follow him.
“Putin inspires the book because he knows all these techniques,” she said.
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Laurence Fishburne, now on Broadway in “American Buffalo,” dined at Cucina 81/2 the other night.
The “Matrix Reloaded” actor toasted owner August Ceradini, former owner of World Yacht and Circle Line, who says he named the eatery as an homage to Federico Fellini’s 1963 film.
Not to quibble, but the eatery in the Solow Building is at 81/2 W. 57th St.
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CJ and T’yanna Wallace threw a “Biggie” bash for the 25th anniversary of their dad’s passing at Jue Lan Club, the former Limelight, the other night.
The VIP crowd quaffed cocktails from DeLeon aptly named Mo-Money Mo-Blanco and The T-Dub. Graffiti artist Will Power created a “Hypnotizing” mural for the event.
The party closed with Lil’ Cease, Jadakiss, Maino, Zeke Thomas and DeRay Mckesson swaying to old school hip hop while snacking on buttercrunch cookies, Notorious B.I.G.’s favorite sweet treat.
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Black gaming entrepreneur Jaye Watts, who founded the Coexist Gaming house in Brooklyn, will expand into a three-story flagship location in Times Square in June.
The new outpost, featuring over 3,000 games from Xbox to PlayStation, will offer memberships with special amenities including cocktails and dining.
The space will also boast original murals by Marvel Comic artists. Insiders are already calling the hotspot a Soho House for gamers.
