As a long-time admirer of Clay Aiken, it’s heartbreaking to see how his courageous decision to come out as gay impacted his career and personal life. It’s 2024, and yet we’re still grappling with the consequences of being true to oneself in the public eye.
Clay Aiken says he lost “50 percent” of his fans after he came out as gay in 2008.
The musician, who first gained fame as the runner-up on Season 2 of American Idol in 2003, publicly declared himself gay in an article for People magazine in 2008. In a recent interview with the same publication, he shared that his career experienced a significant shift following this revelation about his sexuality.
“Back then it was a big deal,” he said, referring to how times have changed in the last 16 years.
“We are in a very different time,” he added. “I lost maybe 50 percent of the fan base.”
When Aiken made his debut, he was the leading actor in the Broadway production of Spamalot, and he mentioned that his disclosure affected the number of tickets sold.
During my initial four months in [Spamalot], the show was consistently sold out and there wasn’t even standing room left, as stated. However, if you examine the ticket sales the week following the release of that cover, you’ll notice a significant decrease. Unfortunately, Spamalot eventually closed its doors just a few months later.
Aiken, who is now 46, decided to come out shortly after his son was born. He was 29 at the time.
He mentioned, “That was the initial choice I made in my role as a parent. I can’t bring up a child to deceive or conceal matters. I wasn’t brought up that way, and I won’t be raising a child to act dishonestly.
He stands behind that decision today, saying he doesn’t regret coming out when he did.
Many individuals who reveal their identity today often experience an increase in recognition, which surprises me because the outcome was different for me when I came out. However, this indicates advancement, suggesting that as a society, we’re moving forward in a positive manner.
Following over ten years absent from the music scene, during which he attempted but did not succeed in gaining a seat in Congress, Aiken has just come out with a new holiday album titled “Christmas Bells Are Ringing.
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2024-12-16 07:24