January 22nd, 2009 / 6:31 pm
Author News & Web Hype

Tao Lin reveals American Apparel sponsorship a hoax

Tao lin reveals today that American Apparel has not actually sponsored Reader of Depressing Books:

 

1/22/2009

just kidding re 1/19/2009 post

*a rare opportunity to display your career management skills* in terms of my career as an author of literary fiction should i have put american apparel ads on my blog without getting paid by american apparel and then made a blog post saying american apparel had sponsored me and then changed my facebook status to ‘american apparel sponsored me: [link to the 1/19/2009 post]’? answer yes or no then elaborate using 120 words or less in the comments section *a rare opportunity to display your career management skills*

 

For those of you who missed the original post, which only went up on 1/19, it’s here:
“american apparel has sponsored this blog (see ads on sidebar)”
In any case, the ads are still up, down the whole right sie of his blog. These ads feature famous hot teen existentialism-espousing BDSM-positive borderline-mainstream-personality-now pornstar Sasha Grey, who seemed to be mostly adveristing her own tits, which, frankly, are much more appealing than whatever that high-waisted garment covering her lower half is. And I would just like to say, for the record, that I was totally taken in by this hoax, (1) because why would anyone pretend to be sponsored by something when they’re not? (answer: seek not to comprehend the ways of Tao, etc) and (2) because of this Jezebel post that went up on the 20th, which didn’t mention Tao at all but might as well have, and I guess might actually have if his story had actually been true. Anyway, I was going to put together a little portfolio of Sasha Grey pictures to celebrate this not-actual-collision-of-worlds, but then I decided that all the really interesting photos of her are too graphic–even for a NSFW-work-tagged post, which the Jezebel post is but this one actually isn’t. So if you want to know what the deal is, turn your Google Safe Search all the way off and don’t say I didn’t warn you slash don’t forget to thank me. Or Tao. You know, whatever. 

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48 Comments

  1. Chester McBubble

      Every day that passes I have stronger urge to go and piss on the storefront of American Apparel, even though I’m worried that Tao might use it to promote himself, he’ll have Brandon follow me and take my photo.

  2. Chester McBubble

      Every day that passes I have stronger urge to go and piss on the storefront of American Apparel, even though I’m worried that Tao might use it to promote himself, he’ll have Brandon follow me and take my photo.

  3. Chester McBubble

      Update: I have been caught pissing on the storefront.

  4. Chester McBubble

      Update: I have been caught pissing on the storefront.

  5. jereme

      why on earth would you think American Apparel would sponsor a fucking blog?

      pragmatic thought, it’s not just for math majors.

  6. jereme

      why on earth would you think American Apparel would sponsor a fucking blog?

      pragmatic thought, it’s not just for math majors.

  7. gena

      i fucking LOVE sasha grey

  8. gena

      i fucking LOVE sasha grey

  9. d'anthony smith

      in our locker room we have several “pump up” stations. one is full of “weight equipment.” another contains “boom boxes” for “gangsta rap” and “guns n roses.” a third has the “internet.” sometimes i stop there to get “transgressive inspiration” from “reader of depressing books” before games. then i go “hit people.”

  10. d'anthony smith

      in our locker room we have several “pump up” stations. one is full of “weight equipment.” another contains “boom boxes” for “gangsta rap” and “guns n roses.” a third has the “internet.” sometimes i stop there to get “transgressive inspiration” from “reader of depressing books” before games. then i go “hit people.”

  11. Nick

      none of those girls on tao’s blog are sasha grey, i don’t think, unless i’m misremembering sasha grey.

      and american apparel does advertise on blogs.

  12. Nick

      none of those girls on tao’s blog are sasha grey, i don’t think, unless i’m misremembering sasha grey.

      and american apparel does advertise on blogs.

  13. jereme

      nick one of the topless pictures looks like it could be her but it isn’t.

      also, i do not doubt you will find advertising on blogs for american apparel. but to believe a multimillion dollar american corporation seeks out blogs of minor famed writers and wants to ‘sponser them’ is silly.

      i’ll reiterate ‘pragmatic thought’.

      that is the mantra for today writerly people. i know you want to think the world is rainbows and musical notes but it isn’t.

  14. jereme

      nick one of the topless pictures looks like it could be her but it isn’t.

      also, i do not doubt you will find advertising on blogs for american apparel. but to believe a multimillion dollar american corporation seeks out blogs of minor famed writers and wants to ‘sponser them’ is silly.

      i’ll reiterate ‘pragmatic thought’.

      that is the mantra for today writerly people. i know you want to think the world is rainbows and musical notes but it isn’t.

  15. ryan

      what? jereme, say it ain’t so.

  16. ryan

      what? jereme, say it ain’t so.

  17. Nick
  18. Nick
  19. gena

      you’re right, none of them are sasha. they are disappointing.

  20. gena

      you’re right, none of them are sasha. they are disappointing.

  21. jereme

      how is that a sponsor? they are not paying to put their ad there.

  22. jereme

      how is that a sponsor? they are not paying to put their ad there.

  23. Nick
  24. Nick
  25. tao

      it’s real, justin

      american apparel sponsored my blog

      the post you linked (‘just kidding…’) was fake

  26. tao

      it’s real, justin

      american apparel sponsored my blog

      the post you linked (‘just kidding…’) was fake

  27. Justin Taylor

      Tao- a double reverse fakeout! Could the plot get any thicker? Yes, but apparently it’s not going to. Good job once again. If you meet Sasha, can I meet her too? Maybe you should email me about this. Also, I’m not doing another blog post on this topic, but I’m going to write a different one about you tomorrow. Hold your breath!

      Jereme- being obstinate doesn’t make you less wrong. Whether or not Tao was lying before or is lying now–and really, when it comes down to it, what’s the difference?–AA’s new marketing strategy just is what it is. ‘facts;’ not just for priests anymore.

      Bunch of people- I think you’re right, on closer inspection, I’m not sure that’s Sasha on Tao’s blog. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn he doesn’t actually know who she is, but maybe mis-identifying the model is part of the GRAND HOAX OF HOAXES (see above). Anyway, you can check the Jezebel post I linked to- they’ve got the actual AA ads featuring Sasha, and Faye Valentine, who is a less interesting porn star, but a porn star nonetheless.

      Gena- yes, Sasha is awesome. She gave me the self-confidence to stop waxing. I would perform as much extreme BDSM on her as she’d let me, even though obviously ‘let’ sort of undermines the whole point. Safe words, am I right?

  28. Justin Taylor

      Tao- a double reverse fakeout! Could the plot get any thicker? Yes, but apparently it’s not going to. Good job once again. If you meet Sasha, can I meet her too? Maybe you should email me about this. Also, I’m not doing another blog post on this topic, but I’m going to write a different one about you tomorrow. Hold your breath!

      Jereme- being obstinate doesn’t make you less wrong. Whether or not Tao was lying before or is lying now–and really, when it comes down to it, what’s the difference?–AA’s new marketing strategy just is what it is. ‘facts;’ not just for priests anymore.

      Bunch of people- I think you’re right, on closer inspection, I’m not sure that’s Sasha on Tao’s blog. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn he doesn’t actually know who she is, but maybe mis-identifying the model is part of the GRAND HOAX OF HOAXES (see above). Anyway, you can check the Jezebel post I linked to- they’ve got the actual AA ads featuring Sasha, and Faye Valentine, who is a less interesting porn star, but a porn star nonetheless.

      Gena- yes, Sasha is awesome. She gave me the self-confidence to stop waxing. I would perform as much extreme BDSM on her as she’d let me, even though obviously ‘let’ sort of undermines the whole point. Safe words, am I right?

  29. John Sakkis

      i’m not sure you would call this a “hoax”

      i don’t get the sasha thing…anal DP on DVD isn’t performance art…even if you own your own company…

  30. John Sakkis

      i’m not sure you would call this a “hoax”

      i don’t get the sasha thing…anal DP on DVD isn’t performance art…even if you own your own company…

  31. pr

      d’anthony: good luck in your next game. you are good at football.

  32. matthew savoca

      haha

  33. matthew savoca

      haha

  34. peter b

      shenanigans

  35. peter b

      shenanigans

  36. jereme

      justin,

      i’m not being obstinate just to be obstinate. facts change, truths are forever.

      “Jereme- being obstinate doesn’t make you less wrong. Whether or not Tao was lying before or is lying now–and really, when it comes down to it, what’s the difference?”

      The difference is you didn’t do any fact checking which makes the post fluff. save yourself some trouble and do a screen capture of his blog every friday. it’s the same end result.

      i guess my issue here is this is another gratuitous tao lin promo post. i think a post breaking down HOW tao lin markets himself would be beneficial. his antics get him out there and other writer/bloggers can learn.

      i still do not believe AA PAID him money to put their ads on his site. I am apt to believe they have a marketing campaign where websites can get money by driving people to AA via displaye ad clicking.

      M&M’s doesn’t pay their nascar driver $1 every time some one views their ad displayed on the hood of a car. they pay money to put their logo on the car because they know millions of people watch nascar.

      anyways who the fuck cares. tao got his shameless promotion as desired..

  37. jereme

      justin,

      i’m not being obstinate just to be obstinate. facts change, truths are forever.

      “Jereme- being obstinate doesn’t make you less wrong. Whether or not Tao was lying before or is lying now–and really, when it comes down to it, what’s the difference?”

      The difference is you didn’t do any fact checking which makes the post fluff. save yourself some trouble and do a screen capture of his blog every friday. it’s the same end result.

      i guess my issue here is this is another gratuitous tao lin promo post. i think a post breaking down HOW tao lin markets himself would be beneficial. his antics get him out there and other writer/bloggers can learn.

      i still do not believe AA PAID him money to put their ads on his site. I am apt to believe they have a marketing campaign where websites can get money by driving people to AA via displaye ad clicking.

      M&M’s doesn’t pay their nascar driver $1 every time some one views their ad displayed on the hood of a car. they pay money to put their logo on the car because they know millions of people watch nascar.

      anyways who the fuck cares. tao got his shameless promotion as desired..

  38. drew

      at least the tits make his blog that much more interesting.

  39. drew

      at least the tits make his blog that much more interesting.

  40. pr

      jesus, i just some crazy internet porn with sasha grey. she’s insanely beautiful. fuck.

  41. jereme

      pr,

      yes she is.

      porn stars are way hot these days. the younger kids just don’t know.

  42. jereme

      pr,

      yes she is.

      porn stars are way hot these days. the younger kids just don’t know.

  43. drew

      i’ve seen some old porn and you’re totally right, porn stars are way hotter (and younger i think) now.

  44. drew

      i’ve seen some old porn and you’re totally right, porn stars are way hotter (and younger i think) now.

  45. barry

      i hear its easy to make money writing porn screen plays.

  46. barry

      i hear its easy to make money writing porn screen plays.

  47. flower boy

      boogie in the butt

  48. flower boy

      boogie in the butt