A Star Is Born: Spitzer's Downfall Gives Rise to Ashley Alexandra Dupré

Submitted by John Stauber on

In the brave new world of seemingly everyone having a MySpace page, publicity over alleged prostitution gave rise to a new online star at MySpace. The overnight political implosion of New York Democratic governor Eliot Spitzer, aka Client 9, led to an explosion of attention for previously unknown singer Ashley Alexandra Dupré, the current name of the 22 year old identified as Kristen, The Emperors Club VIP call girl implicated in Spitzer's downfall. After the New York Times revealed its existence, Dupre's MySpace page drew what quickly became more than five million visitors who listened to her song, saw the pictures she posted, read her postings and in many cases posted comments and messages with links to their own sites. A dozen hours after the New York Times article, the original site on MySpace was intermittently accessible or sometimes seeeming to be 'hacked', other times replaced with a message that read "this user has either cancelled their membership or their account has been deleted." Prosecutors have given Dupré immunity, while focusing attention on Spitzer's staff such as fundraiser Kristian Stiles.

Main Source: 
MySpace.com, March 13, 2008
Topics: 
Marketing
Media
Women

Comments

Mutternich replied on

Sometimes I just get a paranoid fear of slippery slopes.

Um...well...how about a little Carlyle Group, then?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/13/AR2008031300061.html?hpid=topnews

Carlyle Fund's Assets Seized
Leaders Fail to Stop Securities Sell-Off

By Thomas Heath
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 13, 2008; Page D01

A publicly traded affiliate of the Carlyle Group said yesterday that lenders were seizing its assets, sending the fund, Carlyle Capital, into insolvency.

The collapse of Carlyle Capital is the first time a Carlyle Group fund has failed and is a stinging embarrassment for the District private-equity powerhouse....

[More at the link]

Pani113 replied on

First, I think this whole episode was ridiculous! While the economy crumbles, yet another inane distraction.

Second, I hope the young lady does benefit. Men have used women for centuries. If she can get something out of it, more power to her!

Third, myspace is fun! I haven't done too much with mine due to an antiquated browser. But, since I have been ranting on Spin of the Day for years, if anyone has ever wondered what a premenapausal militant fat woman looks like:

http://www.myspace.com/vortexresister113

Mutternich replied on

"...if anyone has ever wondered what a premenapausal militant fat woman looks like..."

Here's lookin' at you, kid! :-)

"While the economy crumbles, yet another inane distraction."

Or maybe not, after all:

http://www.gregpalast.com/elliot-spitzer-gets-nailed/

Gosh, I guess it was me at the top of that slippery slope. :-(

Mutternich replied on

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-g-brant/eliot-spitzer-george-bus_b_91764.html

I distinctly remember the use of this "linked to a prostitution ring" language when the story broke on Monday. That's how it was framed on the news channel playing in the offices of the Congresspeople I happened to be visiting. I remember first thinking to myself "He's running a prostitution organization on the side?", not "He went to see a hooker?".

John Stauber replied on

The gist of the posting was to look at the amazing power of new media and social networking sites such as MySpace. This article looks at what happened on MySpace with her site as it received a reported five million visits suddenly as the scandal broke and the NYT revealed its existence.

*Alfred Hermida, [http://reportr.net/2008/03/15/the-mystery-of-ashley-alexandra-dupres-myspace-page/ The mystery of Ashley Alexandra Dupre’s MySpace page], Reportr.net, March 15, 2008.

davbaye replied on

Splitzer had to read the essay on prostitution "A She-Savior" by the well-known Russian author Mikhail Armalinsky. It was published in Moscow edition of his Selected Works http://www.mipco.com/english/introVozn.html
Here is the link: http://www.mipco.com/english/SheSavior.html

The main idea of the essay "A She-Savior" is that the legalization of prostitution must be based on a return of its divine, sacred character, so that prostitution will be considered the most honorable profession, the one closest to God, the holiest.

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