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NOT SAFE FOR WORK – This post contains photographs that may not be acceptable for persons under the age of 18 and of a suggestive nature with mild nudity.
You have been warned.
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He’s November 2009’s cover boy for Details Magazine and his scorching photos ooze sex, a classic persona and question if Adam Lambert got too hot, too soon for American Idol.

American Idol’s 2009 second place runner-up Adam Labert (or as Perez Hilton calls him ‘Glambert’) is gracing the pages of Details Magazine…with a naked woman…that he can be seen making out with and on the verge of licking.

Adam looks amazing. Literally, his hair, his clothes — heck I want a manicure like that. It’s an inverted half-moon manicure (circa 1950s United States — take that Mad Men fans!) To a certain extent he even reminds me of James Dean in one particular black and white photo: a white shirt, dark jeans, profiled and oh so sexy — tough cookies for us women because Adam Lambert is gay folks.

“I am gay, but I like kissing women sometimes. Women are pretty. It doesn’t mean I’m necessarily sleeping with them.” – Adam Lambert in Details Magazine.

He’s the first American Idol contestant to be flaunt his sexuality off the show and not only that but he goes against the American Idol ‘mold’ for his edgey wardrobe, unique song choices, painted nails, wild hair and sometimes excessive sexiness…which is exactly what you see in his Details photo spread.

The thing is, American Idol is a brand and it’s winners have to adhere to what it is to be a part of that brand until their immediate time with Idol is over. It’s part of the pop-machine and the brand is what keeps those gears turning.

Idol is a conservative brand for the most past, where it’s artists on the show  are squeaky clean or they kicked-off by the producers. They have to embody the melting pot of the Americana.

Why?

Because American Idol’s biggest audience is pre-teen and teenage girls whose parents control their allowances.  Traditionally, teeny bopper and pre-teen parents won’t allow their kids to be a part of something that is hyper-sexual. It goes against societal norms; it goes against the norm of American Idol.

But, that’s what Adam Lambert’s Details Magazine spread looks like.  It’s another part of his personality (or one invented part) that I’m sure not a lot of fans knew of.

That could mean trouble for his Idol status.

“It’s all fantasy – that’s what entertainment is. I’m here to entertain you, and if my sexuality is apparent and you respond to it, and you’re attracted to it, then great, I’m doing my job.” – Adam Lambert in Details Magazine.

Think of it along the same lines of the tight reigns Disney has on Vanessa Hudgens and Miley Cyrus: apologies, public appearances by their parents to call for forgiveness for their actions, organized press events to ‘fix’ their images and maintain the Disney brand etc. etc. etc.

That’s American Idol.

“There’s a feeling of entitlement [with the fans] because they voted to get us where we are. But you know what? I am responsible for what I created on the show. You voted for what I created, and thank you, but I created it, you didn’t.” – Adam Lambert in Details Magazine.

Arguably, Lambert should have been the winner of his season based on his track record and constant set of praises from the judges. At one point Kris Allen, the season’s winner, even thought Adam was going to win…but Adam didn’t.

Was there something, that the Idol voting audience saw and recognized then? Was he against THEIR idea of the Idol brand and they voted otherwise?

It’s something to think about.

But nonetheless, the openly gay star has opened a new door with these photos and what will happen with his brand — only time will tell.

So really and truly, is Adam Lambert too hot? Is there such a thing?

Little Pink Book’s Rule of PR #27:
Your personal brand is intermixed with those
you are associated with.
More than you realize or lack thereof.
Remember that.

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Sasha Muradali runs the ‘Little Pink Book’ . She holds a B.S. in Public Relations from the University of Florida (’07) and an M.A. in International Administration from the University of Miami(’08). She loves Twitter and all things social media, so you should find her @SashaHalima or get a copy of the ‘Little Pink Book’ delivered to your Kindle.

Copyright © 2009 Sasha H. Muradali. All Rights Reserved.