Clay Aiken puts the airport incident to bed

In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight, Clay Aiken set the record straight about what really happened on the airplane that was, evidently, so important that more than 225 news outlets, mostly in the USA, reported this insignificant story.

No matter that we have Americans dying everyday in Iraq, children in Uganda have to wander the countryside in search of safe haven, and Afghani women and children struggle to get even a basic education. Our President's approval rating is in the 20's and he has squandered most of the good will and respect that other countries used to have for us, our politicians can't be trusted to do what's right for the American people, and New Orleans is still a quagmire of deserted and forgotten people.

But God forbid, let Clay Aiken (or his foot) be the victim of an unprovoked attack and it's stop the presses and slant your story so that it gets the most hits. Read below for Clay's exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight:

Singer CLAY AIKEN was involved in a minor dispute with a woman on a plane Saturday.

Now, in an exclusive statement to ET, the singer tells his side of the story, saying, "While sleeping on a plane over the weekend, my foot evidently found a home on the arm rest of the passenger seated directly in front of me. I didn't realize I was causing the woman any distress until she woke me up with a quick hit to the chest.

"Unfortunately, being that this happened on a plane, the FBI was called in to investigate and eventually we were all sent on our way. I'd like to thank everyone for their concern; I am fine and have taken steps to prevent any foot wandering in the future."

Clay cleverly implies that there are far greater sources of distress in the world. "Now that I have your attention," he continues, "if you'd like to learn more about how you can help the world's children, please visit 'www.unicefusa.org.'

The 2003 "American Idol" runner-up was on a Continental Airlines flight heading to Tulsa when he and a female passenger got into a minor disagreement that led to her shoving the 28-year-old pop star.

FBI Special Agent GARY JOHNSON reportedly told the Tulsa World newspaper that the argument was between a male and female passenger, but did not give their names, saying only that the man was a former "American Idol" contestant.

Johnson added that the dispute was over the male passenger's foot resting on the woman's armrest.

The situation, however, did not disrupt the flight, and while both parties were questioned by the FBI, no charges were filed.

Related Tags: Clay Aiken, Entertainment Tonight, UNICEF