LensCrafters says it isn't giving Danny Gokey free eyewear
Filed under: Shopping, Celebs & Money
American Idol' Show Photos
AMERICAN IDOL 8 Danny Gokey performs in front of the judges. Airs Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
Fox
AMERICAN IDOL 8 Matt Giraud performs in front of the judges. Airs Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
Fox
AMERICAN IDOL 8 Allison Iraheta performs in front of the judges. Airs Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
Fox
AMERICAN IDOL 8 Adam Lambert performs in front of the judges. Airs Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
Fox
AMERICAN IDOL 8 Anoop Desai performs live. Airs Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
Fox
AMERICAN IDOL 8 Danny Gokey performs live. Airs Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
Fox
AMERICAN IDOL 8 Kris Allen performs live. Airs Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
Fox
AMERICAN IDOL 8 Matt Giraud performs live. Airs Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
Fox
AMERICAN IDOL 8 Adam Lambert performs live. Airs Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
Fox
AMERICAN IDOL 8 Allison Iraheta performs live. Airs Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
Fox
Don't look at us, LensCrafters is saying. A rep told me that Gokey is not on its payroll and that he is in no way affiliated with the company. Its current ad campaign made its debut April 19, and marketers at the company noticed a few days later that Gokey was flashing its central symbol. LensCrafters has never given him free glasses, either (although a rep did helpfully tell me that many of the styles he wears are available at a store near you).
LensCrafters says it has never sent him free eyewear, either, but that doesn't mean Gokey isn't getting some. A Milwaukee TV station recently did a story about the independent mall-based optician who used to sell him his signature specs. This morning, that eye doctor went on-air at the same station to personally hand free pairs to Gokey, who is back in town for promotion. (Better claim those expensive specs on your taxes, Gokey, because the gift's on tape.)
Gokey could be flashing a coronary gang sign to try to get a job pitching LensCrafters later on, but I still doubt it, because the charity he set up in the name of his late wife, the Sophia's Heart Foundation, also uses a heart as its centerpiece.
Gokey may indeed be continually reminding audiences about his wife's death during the competition, but he's not selling eyeglasses for LensCrafters.
After the ear-shattering scream Gokey ended his song with this week, though, Sucrets might consider giving him a jingle.
Update: Minutes after being dismissed from the competition, Danny Gokey broke his silence on a TV show called American Idol Extra. He confirmed his hand symbol was not associated with LensCrafters and that it represents the foundation he set up in his wife's name. He did not explain why he did not feel free to say this when he was active in the competition.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-09-2009 @ 11:55PM
svrdhd said...
So, let me get this straight....millions of people tune in to watch American Idol each week? We tolerated the posing and fluff about 15 minutes a couple of years ago. Find it unbelievable that it is still on TV, people must be bored out of their skulls to watch it.
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 2:28PM
Michelle said...
I find it unbelievable that anyone is even worried about whose glasses Danny wears....who cares? If they do send them to him "free-of-charge," who cares? If he does flash their sign, which I highly doubt, who cares? Don't you people have anything else, bigger things, perhaps, to worry about that you pick up on something so menial? Ridiculous!!
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 2:32PM
Debbi said...
Anyone watching AI this year would know the back story of Danny. HIs foundation for his wife which was founded last year uses the heart. Seems to me Lens Crafter took the idea from him not the other way around.
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 7:19PM
Greg said...
And AOL and WalletPop aren't pimping Danny? Puhlease! Last ditch effort to score the loser some points?
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 2:41PM
Buckdoctor said...
I thought he was shilling for mediocrity. Ugh. This creature is so insincere and slimey. Get him off the air.
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 3:17PM
nadine durkin said...
i dont think danny is insincere or slimy. And the fact that people care so much about if he is seeling eyeglasses says it all. people know who he is. he may not have the same voice as Adam but he is still great. And how did Amanda go? She is better than chris.
5-11-2009 @ 2:38PM
cupcakelarue said...
danny's a singer and a church musician; neither of which equate to a lick of business sense ... he'll get enough products to endorse once AI's over and done with. although i don't believe he'll be this season's big winner. glasses-schmasses - who CARES? if he can get some backing from a product endorsement, go for it (albeit legitimately) before his 15 min. is over.
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 3:47PM
Frank said...
He DID make the hans/heart gesture at the end of last week's show, low to his knees area. He found a camera that was focused there and did the number. And OF COURSE he is shilling for Lens Crafters. I just got new gglasses from them at a cost of $500.00 and he wears two to three pair each show! Must have gotten QUITE a HUGE insurance payoff when his wife died...
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 4:02PM
joanne said...
I can't believe that this fabricated story is even being discussed. Last week (must have been a slow news week) the writer makes an assumption based on no facts whatsoever that Danny is working? for Lens Crafters because he wears a variety of glasses? Also he makes the sign of the heart with his hands which coincides with the commercial? You have got to be kidding me. I am disgusted with AOL that these nonsense fluff pieces are on the main page of AOL like its an actual news story or that there is something to report.
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 4:34PM
julie said...
ok danny is not working for lens crafters at all i am from wisconsin and they had his eyedoctor on the news one day and he has bought 19 pairs of glasses from dr wagners office also i just have to say leave him alone he is a great singer and a man with a great heart so for people to say he is slimmy or whatever else your crazy stop knocken someone who is doing good things also i think aol and the people who criticize are going way to far get over it and go gokey go we love you
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 5:16PM
me said...
who cares what kind of glasses he wear's or don't wear.....i for 1 know he can't sing .. he would do really good with a stand up show ... or be in a movie or something like that .....allison now she was good ,,,, she can sing ..... and adam he is even better..... the other 2 guy's should go home do a movie or something together .......adam now i have my bid's on him he is going to win the idiol ....
Reply
5-12-2009 @ 10:24AM
Sarah said...
Hello,
I am from Danny's hometown of Milwaukee, WI and I, too, go to Dr. Wagner, his small in-mall optrician. When Dr. Wagner went on the news, all you haters out there should have paid more attention because if you'll notice, he brought multiple pairs of the same NON PRESCIPTION frames for Danny and the whole Fox 6 news crew to wear for "Danny Gokey Day." Danny is no way getting his glasses from LensCrafters because he has someone pick them up from Dr. Wagner in Milwaukee. Also, the heart he makes with his fingers are for Sophia's Heart Foundation charity that Danny started after his wife passed. I went to the concert at Summerfest in Milwaukee and talked with member's of Danny's family and his late wife's family and he does that to represent her charity. Stop gossiping about Danny and give the guy a break! Danny's signature glasses are just that--his signature thing. Just because LensCrafters carries D&G glasses doesn't mean a small town eye doctor can't have them also does it? NO! Danny we LOVE YOU!
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 6:01PM
Cindy said...
MAYBY, Danny just likes that hand symbol and what it means (to those who actually KNOW, which I didn't.) Why do people endlessly (so-called) REPORT on this no-news.
Reply
5-14-2009 @ 12:54PM
trishie said...
everybody (or almost everybody) is out to get the christians who's got moral values and beliefs... first it was miss california, and now danny gokey...
just because we don't believe in gay marriages doesnt give you all the right to 'destroy' us... obviously they want Adam screaming shrieking gay diva drama queen Lambert to win becuase well, because he's gay... well, who cares
in the end, God will judge people according to their values and beliefs... those are the ones who really wins...
so go ahead, give in to the ways of the world for all this will be gone and don't go cryin when the right people go to heaven...
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 6:47PM
kedoku28 said...
Whether it is LensCrafters or Dr. Wagner of WI, you have to realize that AI is all about product placement. No one gets away with anything for free on that show. Everyone knows what sits in front of the judges at each show.
Whether Dr. Wagner giving free glasses to Danny, helps both. LensCrafters setting up an eventual ad campaign with Danny, helps both. It's an unfair advantage.
What if Kris showed up each week with a new kickass Gibson guitar? What if Adam only wore jackets emblazoned with the Lucky Brand image on the back? Keep the playing field even.
Costuming is one thing; promoting a local business now or setting up a promotion deal for afterwards is another.
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 6:52PM
Bill said...
do you mean to tell me that we're selecting our rock stars from a game show ????
Reply
5-11-2009 @ 7:17PM
msgraftongirl said...
Oh stop the crap. First, who cares about the glasses. Secondly he is really a nice person in real life, unlike a lot of people in this world. Lastly he's not getting a sympathy vote. If that was the case, the blind person would still be on the show.
Reply
5-12-2009 @ 9:57AM
Heather said...
Country musician Taylor Swift uses the heart symbol all the time. If I remember correctly it was on one of her album covers and CD that she put out! Does this mean she is receiving free eyewear from some company because she does this!? I find this one of the most ludicris things I have ever heard of. It's like someone reporting, "He flashed me the finger!! He must be recieving free jewlery from somewhere!" He was probably just trying to make a mark and become more noticable to America, like with Taylor Hicks 'Soul Patrole'. I guess he has accomplished that since we are here debating about his eyeglasses!
Reply
5-19-2009 @ 3:07AM
Tali said...
The hands shaped like a heart symbol is called the HeartMark. When you bring your hands to make a heart, you are "heartmarking."
Reply
7-20-2009 @ 6:36PM
Chef Alan said...
The HeartMark? That's a really cool name for that gesture. I've seen it used before but never knew what it was called.