Outcry over Alig party plan
AFTER we reported Michael Alig — the infamous “Club Kid Killer” — is returning to nightlife, he received death threats, and a campaign to boycott his events sprang up online. Alig planned a Monday party to celebrate the end of his parole for the 1996 manslaughter of Andre “Angel” Melendez, as well as his new gig as creative consultant of LES club the Rumpus Room. But critics created a campaign — apparently directed at the Rumpus Room — featuring a picture of Melendez, saying “This is Andre Angel Melendez. He would have been 45 years old, but he was violently [killed] by [Alig].” It goes on: “Why are you inviting a violent killer of a Latino gay man in through the front door of your club?,” and, “This event is disrespectful.” Meanwhile, in a now-deleted post, someone wrote, “Michael Alig will not leave the club alive.” Alig, who served 17 years in prison, told Page Six, “I didn’t really realize what a can of worms it would be, and we just kind of booked it without thinking, which was a real mistake. It should have been something very well-thought-out and done correctly with a nonprofit and made into a benefit.” He added, “It looked like we were being very [offhand] about it and forgetting about the crime, basically.” After the outrage, Alig announced that a portion of the proceeds from the night — and half his paycheck — would be donated to the Gateway Alcohol & Drug Treatment Centers. “I’m just trying to live my life and make a living doing something I know how to do,” he said.