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September 24, 2008

Clay Aiken Tells People: "I'm Gay"

American Idol runner-up and Broadway actor Clay Aiken announces he is gay on the cover of People magazine's next issue, out Friday.

Aiken, 29, recently became a father to a baby boy with friend and record producer Jaymes Foster, whom he met while performing on the show that launched his career. His son, Parker Foster Aiken, was born in August.

"I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things," he says, according to the People cover.

Aiken's sexual orientation has been the subject of much tabloid discussion since the musical sensation left American Idol's second season as runner-up to Ruben Studdard. Though members of the press have prodded Aiken with questions about being gay, he has steadfastly refused to reveal his sexual orientation; in 2006 he called Diane Sawyer "rude" on Good Morning America for even asking.

Also in 2006, talk-show host Kelly Ripa caused an uproar when Aiken, who was guest-hosting Live With Regis and Kelly with Ripa, put his hand over her mouth so he could interject in an interview with Dancing With the Stars' Cheryl Burke and Emmitt Smith. Ripa pulled away, saying, "Oh, that's a no-no. I don't know where that hand's been, honey!"

Rosie O'Donnell, then a cohost on The View, said she took offense to the incident. "To me, that's a homophobic remark," O'Donnell said on the show. "If that was a straight man, if that was a cute man, if that was a guy that she didn't question his sexuality, she would have said a different thing."

Ripa countered that Aiken had been shaking hands with people and that it was flu season at the time.

Later that year a Green Beret claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Aiken in the National Enquirer. He later apologized, saying he should not have told his story without Aiken's consent.

Aiken took a leave from absence from his role as Sir Robin in Broadway's Spamalot earlier this year. He will reprise his role from September 19 to January 4.

Out magazine 's Popnography blog posted early this morning about the People cover and the lengthy backstory that led Aiken to come out. (Michelle Garcia, The Advocate)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Name: YWT2004
Date posted: 2008-10-09 6:05 AM
Hometown: Victoria, B.C.

Comment:

WOW! I find some of the comments here so rude and ignorant of anything factual . For one thing , Jaymes (the baby's Mamma) has stated in no way was there any monies exchaned for the People magazine pics.......they declined payment ...also there were other mags interested i.e. HELLO magazine for one but Clay & Jaymes refused and did not even consider other magazines other than People . Also who among anyone of us has never lied at one point in their lives? How many gay people are ready to 'come out' right out of the gate? Clay said what he said , when he said it at the time in RS magazine because he had not told his loved ones yet . For every other interview thereafter he was just not ready yet to come out.......Is it after all not up to him and him alone. Regardles of when he did , in lieu of today's society, it still takes courage to do so . Parker is blessed to have two loving caring parents .

Name: Chris
Date posted: 2008-09-24 9:34 PM
Hometown: San Diego

Comment:

I've actually worked with Clay on one of his concerts. The show was mediocre at best, and that's being kind. He was a jerk, unprofessional and someone who made you wish he would just leave. So much of his attitude and behavior was obviously rooted in keeping people away so that he didn't have to face the inevitable question about his sexuality. But yesterday, Clay did a good thing. Everyone comes out on their own time, and it's especially difficult if you're in the public eye. He needs more time on stage to develop, refine his talent and get comfortable in his own skin. It took him a long time to come out, but yesterday was a step in the right direction.

Name: Courtney
Date posted: 2008-09-24 3:02 PM
Hometown: Waldorf, MD

Comment:

I heard he wanted a lot of money for the first pics of his new baby and the tabloids wouldn't give it to him cuz hes not that important anymore and no one cared. The tabloids told him they would give him the money (reportedly $1 million) if he had something juicy and worthwhile to tell them along with the rights to the first pictures, so basically he offered to come out! He's definitely NOT doing it for the right reasons if you ask me... He's certainly not a hero for the GBLT community now that he's come out. He doing it FOR THE MONEY! Just goes to show you the shit people will do for money. P.S. I heard all of this on the radio this morning.

Name: Joey
Date posted: 2008-09-23 9:32 PM
Hometown: Tampa

Comment:

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Do celebrities and even everyday individuals fear coming out because of the continued perception that there is absolutly, positively and always some threat or danger in doing so? Or does the same group of people hiding in the closet for years before they're usually forced out propetuate the perception in the first place? With gay talk show hosts, gay award winning actors, musicians and other performance artists and even gay Trekkers going where "no on has gone before" in the media why does this perception stay so firmly in our consciousness? While the world is not absolutly safe for all individuals much less minorities, is there always, positively and absolutly something to fear. Or are we traped by internalized homophobia?

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