this post was submitted on 08 Jun 2025
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That would be quality (lazysoci.al)
submitted 1 day ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 52 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

"Scam" is an exaggeration. Your own Wikipedia link shows he declined a cushy entertainment position in Special Services. Twice. He completed the training, which he hated, and broke down in tears on multiple phone calls, describing his homesickness. As the most popular entertainer in the world at the time, he was of course given special privileges, but he was still a soldier. Soldiers have many duties and not all of them engage in direct combat. "Never winding up anywhere remotely near a battle" would have happened with anyone that famous (for political and strategic reasons), and certainly did for other rich, well-connected people...

[–] [email protected] 5 points 18 hours ago

You can read more about the scam they were referring to from Colonel Parker's Wikipedia article.

Presley had been showing signs of rebellion against Parker, and Parker believed that a stint in the Army would cure him of this. Parker was looking ahead when he persuaded Presley to become a soldier. Presley had wanted to join Special Services, allowing him the opportunity to perform while at the same time getting a more leisurely ride than other soldiers. Parker, on the other hand, was fully aware that any particular treatment given to Presley would instantly be used against him in the media and by those who disliked his style of music. If Presley could show the world that he was treated the same as any other young man, Parker told him, then more people would accept him and his music. Parker was also afraid that any attempt to block Presley from being drafted would result in a more detailed look into Parker's own service record. He also realized that it would be an excellent opportunity to promote Presley by having the media witness his induction day, including the army haircut that would see the shearing of Presley's iconic hairstyle.

While Presley served in West Germany, Parker appeared to be in complete control, but he was worried about the outside influences that Presley might encounter there. Parker had declined to travel to Europe to visit Presley, denying that he spoke any language other than English. He sent Presley's friends to keep him company, arranged for business associates to watch over him while working in Europe, and maintained regular contact with him. He was reportedly afraid that Presley would realize that other managers were prepared to sign contracts that did not require as much as 25% of his earnings.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I didn't say it was a scam by Elvis, I said it was a scam by his manager. Read the whole article, it clearly was. The manager convinced the selective service to immediately draft Elvis before his number came up, lying to them that Elvis would be a performer for the army, but then after he was drafted he convinced Elvis not to be an army performer and instead go into the regular army, even though Elvis didn't want to. Per the article, the manager did this specifically to make more money from Elvis's career

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Thank you, I did read the whole article! You said "It was all a scam setup by his manager." That's an exaggeration, if not misinformation. His manager Parker essentially only scammed Elvis, by making it seem he would be able to avoid service.

I also don't see where it said his manager "convinced the selective service to immediately draft Elvis before his number came up, lying to them that Elvis would be a performer for the army", but I don't have access to The Colonel, the source in the article.

Those nitpicks aside, I think they both probably decided it was a shrewd business decision for Elvis to give 2 years of service as a soldier, rather than a performer, especially since Elvis declined Special Services a second time after he was already drafted.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 18 hours ago

I'm not sure you know enough about the general relationship between Elvis and his manager "Colonel" Tom Parker, to be making assumptions like Elvis having a remotely equal say in career decisions.

Yes he did scam Elvis. He did that a lot infact.

He was also not a Colonel, even though he told people he was. He stole money from Presley to cover gambling debts, that's on top of his 50% managers cut. He prevented Elvis from touring Europe due to his own immigration status. Also pressured Presley into film, as opposed to focusing more on music.

Parker did pressure Elvis into the military. Hell, he even influenced the relationship between Elvis and Priscilla, whom Elvis met while serving.