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01/26/2007

Perhaps the last thing we will say on 'Donnie Davies'

by Jeremy Hooper

So we feel a need to clear up some misrepresentations that are now stemming from the whole Donnie Davies/ Colby Starck nonsense.  First off: We never identified Colby Starck (the Bobby Conn band member) as "Donnie Davies."  We simply presented all of the information that was given to us.  Within the span of one hour yesterday, we were first randomly contacted by Bobby Conn band member Julie Pomerleau (aka Monica BouBou), before we had ever even seen the pictures or thought to connect the band with "Davies."  In fact, we had never even HEARD of the band!  Then, within the span of 13 minutes, two different people who have never before left a comment on G-A-Y provided a link to the Bobby Conn band photos, suggesting we have a look.  So we did, also noticed a similarity, and posted the photo.  We left it up to you to decide for yourself.

Secondly, once it seemed ever more possible that this was the man responsible for the "God Hates A Fag" parody, nobody thought he was doing it in malice, but rather satire.  We say this because of comments Mr. Starck gave to Radar Online distancing himself from homophobia, and because of a comment we saw on a livejournal today, in which the writer posts a pic of Starck along with the line: "My friend Colby, not a gay-bashing ex-gay fundamentalist."  However, the thought was never that Mr. Starck was possibly serving as Mr. Davies to trash homosexuals, but rather to trash homophobia.

It may seem minor to you, but we don't want things to get muddied as this online game of telephone plays out.  The evidence that Mr. Starck is/was Mr. Davies seemed pretty lock-solid, especially once Dan Savage brought a video to light in which the physical similarities were uncanny.  However, the picture posted of Mr. Starck at the aformentioned livejournal link doesn't look like him at all.  So again, we're not saying one way or another, but rather just watching and updating on how it all plays out. 

In all honesty, if someone is posing as Davies as a joke in order to garner attention, then they've waited about ten minutes too long to make their big revelation.  At this point it's becoming less a case of "Who is Donnie Davies" and more a case of "Do we really even care?"

**UPDATE: Oh dear God:

 

***UPDATE, 1/27: He's been found!!

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Your thoughts

In all honesty, if someone is posing as Davies as a joke in order to garner attention, then they've waited about ten minutes too long to make their big revelation.

(sigh) That's the problem with kids today... No patience and too short of an attention span. ;-)

If "Lost" is any precedent, he can spin this out into a couple of seasons, complete with syndication and DVD box sets.

Posted by: Jim Burroway | Jan 26, 2007 1:18:47 PM

. Colby Starck is not Donnie Davies, as he has already made clear, but just to reemphasize. He's as suprised by all of this as anyone.

For a more recent look at Colby Starck, here's he and the rest of Bobby's band in the recent video for "King for a Day," title track of Bobby's upcoming album - proof that Colby no longer looks anything like Donnie Davies (look for Colby at around 00:18)

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1501443419

Colby has already said it very clearly, but as Bobby Conn's (and by association Colby's) publicist, I'll say it again, Colby Starck is not Donnie Davies. Colby says, "While I'm honored to be a part of a viral internet sensation, I'm kind of bummed that they think I'm some kind of hateful-christian-rocker." And neither he or we would "saritize" homophobia for some kind of publicity stunt.

Posted by: Jamie Proctor | Jan 26, 2007 3:31:25 PM

This has gone too far... I am "Donnie Davies".
I am deeply ashamed for the pain I have caused to everyone. I apologize to the gay community, to the christian community, to the music community, to the internet community, to those who suffer from thyroid conditions, and especially to Colby Starck. It was just a little (but mildly expensive) joke. When I started out with the idea I had no inkling it would go this far. Please find it in your hearts to forgive me. I will be entering intensive therapy, with my fellow homophobe Isaiah Washington, in the hopes of getting to the roots of my anger.

Pray for me.
Famous Mortimer

Posted by: Mortimer | Jan 26, 2007 3:51:57 PM

he's at it again

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6BWTsn7SmHQ&mode=user&search=

Posted by: arlopop | Jan 26, 2007 4:21:56 PM

I think what's most disturbing is the fact that on Donnie's website, he actually "thanks" Andrew Sullivan for sticking up for his "Freedom of speech".

That scared me to death.

What's happening when hate speech is being protected under the law and in the court of public opinion? Especially GAY public opinion.

Yikes.

Posted by: Alex | Jan 26, 2007 5:52:33 PM

Does anybody looking at that logo for the chops program think it doesn't look hoax-ish?

Posted by: Ferin | Jan 26, 2007 8:06:58 PM

Come on, Alex, in the US most any kind of speech is protected under the 1st Amendment--and it's a good thing. Queers, of all people, should appreciate this. Sure it means we have to put up with a lot of kooky, unpleasant, often hurtful nonsense (even satirical kooky nonsense) but on the whole it's a good thing. What's the point of "freedom of speech" if things you don't like to hear aren't protected?

Of course in the specific case you're talking about (Donnie on YouTube) it's not really a 1st Amendment issue anyway because YouTube is privately owned and can decide what it wants to allow or not. Plus Sullivan never even raised the issue of freedom of speech, he just said "YouTube wimps out."

Posted by: werdna | Jan 27, 2007 12:01:09 PM

He's apparently going to be interviewed on Buffalo radio on Monday. Should be interesting to hear what he has to say

Posted by: Drew | Jan 27, 2007 7:34:12 PM

Donnie Davies outed!!! For real this time

Dallas Actor Joel Ogelsby
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/

Posted by: arlopop | Jan 27, 2007 9:46:20 PM

YAY!!!!

Posted by: G-A-Y | Jan 27, 2007 10:40:41 PM

It's hard to put the humor aside. It's really really difficult. It's impossible to take this guy seriously, and there's a danger in that. I tried to give this a twist on my blog, but I think I failed. However, there's still a chance to learn from this.

I've watched this again and again, usually for a laugh. Today I watched it, but this time I tried to analyze why it made me feel the way I feel. Why do I find his infantile hate-slinging so very funny? And why is it dangerous to simply dismiss it so?

Posted by: PNS | Feb 3, 2007 11:59:10 PM

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