May
20
RJ Danvers: Ford Model Search a “Scam”
May 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
About a week ago we wrote (click here) about Raging Stallion exclusive RJ Danvers having entered the VMan Ford Model search, an online cattle call, sponsored by Diesel and VMagazine.com. The winner was to receive a Ford Models contract and the cover of VMan #11, shot by Hedi Slimane. Mr. Danvers was among half a dozen porn performers in the contest and managed to rally webizens to his side; they voted and voted and voted some more, sending Mr. Danvers (who used the name Ryan Abraham) all the way to second place with more than 8400 votes. However, VMan and Ford announced their top three finalists yesterday (click here) and none of them ended up anywhere close to the top of the online pack. “The contest was nothing more than a scam to get people talking about Ford Models,” Mr. Danvers blogged today (click here), “and to bring traffic to the VMan [and] Diesel…websites.” He writes that he feels “totally taken advantage of…I knew somewhere in my heart of hearts that something like this would happen, but I had no idea it would be this blatant.” He is encouraging readers to send letters of protest, so click over to his blog for the info if you feel so compelled. [Image √Ǭ© RJ Danvers.]
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Huh? I thought the winner was the one with the most votes. I guess I’ll check out his blog for more info, but this is nonsense.
Something didn’t smell right about this from the beginning. I bet if you read the fine print on the contest, it says Ford retains the right to choose the finalists, and nobody bothered to read it.
Will,
Did we not choose a president in 2000 who clearly did not get the most votes? Haha.
You are correct sir.
Hey JC, thanks for posting about this. I was really dissapointed, but kinda knew this would happen from the beginning. They chose the winners from the open casting calls, although the rules stated the top 3 vote getters were the finalists. It’s just dissapointing… no big though, I am more upset for feeling like I sucked my fans into a contest that wasn’t even real…. it’s more an embarrassment for me than anything else.
RJ – If that’s what the rules stated, you should sue!
That is very sad that they did that and that this guy [and others] were hurt.
I had commented on the last post about this that something was not right.
Having been employed as a model by the Ford Agency in NY, Miami, Tokyo etc. – it did not ring right with me. I am surprised that they let the Ford name be used in a scam??
They are very conservative- I mean even the head of the Mens Division was straight- That was a first. Again I am sad that they got this boys hopes up, I knew something was wrong. They would not hire a known porn star,
not saying they shouldn’t [course not] just they would not IMO- I am sorry for him that this happened. Mr Danvers you have what it takes, proceed with other agencies if you want- stay away from model “contests” and any part of a modelling situation that makes you pay for anything.
Good luck to you!
V.J. – Being so conservative, as you say, I highly doubt that they would leave themselves open legally and participate in a scam. Not having read the rules, it’s hard to say what exactly is going on here, but IMO we shouldn’t call it a acam until we know all the facts. (Your double question marks probably cover your ass!)
will,
I agree with you. I do not know the details of the contest but something tells me Ford did not know about it, at least not the part about a winner being picked by votes alone. They scrutinize who they choose and [at least they used to] put them under contract, they are a serious agency.
Unless it was some kind of P.R. thing where they were “lending” their name for promo. but they do not need that.
The fine print like you say will, is the only answer IMO
Didn’t KNOW about it? Then I guess they would be the ones suing!