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One time lackey for Full Tilt Poker, Michele Clayborne, insists she never posted on public message boards as a man in an effort to cover up the mess transpiring at her former employer.
Immediately following the indictments of Full Tilt Poker executives on April 15, 2012, an individual using the handle “FTPDoug” took to the posting forums insisting all was well at FTP.
All was not okay at Full Tilt Poker, however, and “FTPDoug” was immediately called out as Ms. Clayborne by some.
Clayborne, who once denied Gambling911.com reporter Jenny Woo from gaining access to Full Tilt Poker sponsored pros following a scathing report about that floundering firm, has finally emerged after more than 15 months of MIA status to shoot down the rumors that she once posed as a virtual man.
In so doing, Clayborne praised PokerNews.com for its publication of “the truth”.
I read with pleasure the recent statement on Pokernews.com from Shyam Marcus, Poker Room Manager at Full Tilt Poker. Although, I am not an online poker player, the PokerStars/FTP acquisition hopefully brings an end to this unfortunate period in online gaming and will restore both faith in the sport and the return of all funds to FTP players.
As the former Consulting Head of PR for FTP with over 15 years of global experience in public relations, the revelation of the true identity of FTPDoug was long over due. Until this announcement, I too was not aware of this person’s identity, although I asked for clarification on numerous occasions due to the fact that some unreliable and misleading poker press deemed FTPDoug to be me with 100 percent certainty — now known to be 100 percent false. Nor, was I ever notified of any posting prior, or asked to review them. I saw them for the first time when the public did.
For further clarification, I was also not informed about any of the intricate details of the financial inner workings of the FTP organization, nor should I have been. I was not an employee of the company, nor is investor relations, finances or accounting, my area of expertise.
I am and will always be loyal to my PR clients. Therefore, I never commented on this tragic matter publicly, even though I was the target of several untrue and malicious postings that were damaging to my reputation. As a professional, I would never intentionally mislead the public. Any PR statements I have ever released were under my own name (not FTPDoug or any other pseudonym) and all information for my press releases were both provided and expressly approved by FTP.
During complicated, crisis situations such as the one with FTP, it is unfortunate that there are unreliable poker news sites and bloggers that disseminate self-serving, inaccurate and misleading information to poker playing public — further clouding an already tense situation. You deserve better. Thank you to Pokernews.com and TwoPlusTwo for posting the truth.
I look forward with great optimism for a speedy resolution for all of the players and fruitful partnership between PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker.
Clayborne, who only joined Facebook back in June of this year, refers to herself as “an international public relations consultant with several years of experience in the industry. She is skilled in blue chip agency management and has handled reputation and brand building work for both emerging and mature brands. She is available for consultations and expertise requests”.
Clayborne has yet to apologize to Jenny Woo for her vicious tongue-lashing over the phone just prior to Full Tilt Poker’s initial demise and has served zero purpose over these past 15 months of torturous apprehension as FTP customers were left hanging, waiting with bated breath to learn the fate of their funds.
Two weeks ago it was revealed that one time rival, PokerStars, had entered into a settlement with the US Government paving the way for the largest online poker room to take over accounts of Full Tilt Poker customers. In so doing, Stars announced it would be paying back all those still owed monies.
PokerStars utilized seasoned professionals to release a statement regarding the Full Tilt Poker deal and have no plans to hire back Ms. Clayborne.
That said, we at Gambling911.com reluctantly wish Michele Clayborne the very best in her future endeavors, whatever they may entail.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
