The NOT so shocking News this week…
American Idol runner up, Adam Lambert has announced to the pages of Rolling Stone’s magazine that he is gay, ending the ongoing media attention. It is definitely not a shock to many (it’s comparison to when k.d. lang came out… it wasn’t a shock that she is a lesbian, but to see it in print left many in disbelief). Hopefully by his coming out, Lambert will be able to focus on his musical career instead of the ongoing “is he?”, “isn’t he?” rumors that have been going on since he began his quest to be America’s next Idol. 
Lambert is not the first Idol to come out – Jim Verraros, was asked by FOX to remove all gay content from his online journal before beginning the televised competition. Since leaving Idol, the out singer/ actor has starred in the gay themed movie, “Eating Out 2″ and has released his own album, Roller Coaster. You can find out more about Jim at http://www.jimverraros.com
Also coming out after finding success in the #2 spot, Clay Aiken. Aiken had experienced a lot of joking and pushing for his closet door to open. His sexuality was even the cause of an on-air feud between Kelly Ripa, of Live with Regis and Kelly, and Rosie O’Donnell prior to his coming out. He was on the cover of People and came out about not only his sexuality, but of his life and the birth of his child.
Aiken has released 4 albums to date and has performed on Broadway. It is said that Aiken is second in line for mainstream popularity and success since Idol, Season 1 winner, Kelli Clarkson.
Many say that Aiken and Lambert didn’t win because of gay rumors and speculation. This may very well be true. Hopefully one day we will see an out performer from day one, lead all the way to be an American Idol.
I wouldn’t call Clay answering fan’s questions slamming A.Lambert. And he didn’t answer the question until AI-8 had ended. All he did was givve his opinion of the 1 song he heard and the media really blew it out of proportion.
Cookie: Thank you for the comment, you are replying to the automated “Possibly related posts” that wordpress generates. I agree with you, Aiken just started an opinion off from 1 song – the media hypes way too many things up, while not paying attention to other matters. Again, thanks for the post and for checking out my blog!
In 2003 the show was new, Aiken wasn’t ‘out’ in his private life. The climate for the gay issue was a different world than we are in today.
But requiring this years favorored Idol to go in a Closet a he was never in, so the Idol machine could use the “coming out” angle as their “marketing campaign”, is offensive.
This is no reflection on the kid, he is just a pon in the Idol cog.
Clay and Adam are as different as night and day. Yeah, they are both gay and that’s were it ends. Clay was raised in a Conservative Christian family, was out to no one before Idol, has morals, ethics and class. Clay came out on his own time and when he had been able to make sure that his family and friends knew of his orientation.
Adam was out for years, went back in the closet for Idol, now has a coming out party in RS as a publicity stunt and to try to coerce the less than intelligent to buy the RS magazine. Quite a difference I would say.