Clay Aiken Comes Out Of The Closet
In news that is prolly surprising only to his most loyal Claymate fans, Clay Aiken has decided to come out of the closet and admit his homosexuality on the cover of the new issue of People magazine. Under the headline, Yes, I’m Gay (which is the same headline that Ellen DeGeneres and Lance Bass used when they came out of the closet on the cover of People), Clay also gives the world the first really good look of his newborn son Parker Foster Aiken who was born via surrogate mother (best friend and producer Jaymes Foster) on 08.08.08. Here is Clay and Parker’s new People magazine cover:
People magazine has yet to update its own site with this breaking news but the Huffington Post is all over it:
People hits newsstands on New York and LA on Wednesday, and there new cover is a doozy. American Idol alum Clay Aiken and newborn son Parker pose for their first photos AND Aiken officially comes out. Parker Foster Aiken was born on August 8 in North Carolina to Aiken’s good friend Jaymes Foster, 50. The pair met when Aiken was a contestant on American Idol. He was in “Spamalot” on Broadway earlier this year and is returning now. Aiken has long remained silent about his sexuality. While he has legions of female fans called Claymates, but has also been referred to for years as Gayken by Kathy Griffin and has been allegedly solicited gay sex online.
Even tho I am not a Clay Aiken fan (in the least, I don’t like an thing that he does actually) I must commend him for taking this step into brave new territory for him and his family. This People magazine cover quotes him as saying “I cannot raise a child to lie or hide things” and I have to admit that he gets major props from me for coming to that conclusion. Parker can only benefit from his father’s honesty … I wish them well on their life’s journey together. So … thoughts?
[Source]
Tags: Clay Aiken, Parker Foster Aiken, People Magazine
RSS
Feedburner
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Obviously… no surprise! But I am happy for him! There is no need to hide and lie about being gay, and Parker will be raised by someone who loves him and thats what matters!
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
It’s a shame that he should feel compelled to make this public just so he does not have to feel like he is lying to his son.It is after all his private business and as long as he is honest to himslef and to his child, who cares?
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Who’s actually surprised??? Good for him for finally choosing to come out of the closet. But, seriously, the title to the People cover should have been, “in case you didn’t know…”
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Nat, I agree. Sexuality is no one’s business but their own. However… hasn’t he outright stated that he is NOT gay in the past? I think I read/heard that a few times, but maybe I’m wrong.
Be proud, people! Times they are a-changin.
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
That is one cute baby.
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Personally I think he finally decided to come out because no one talks about him anymore.. and this was the best way to get on people magazines cover.. kudos to him for doing it, I guess.. doesn’t make him any more or less talented.. or change the world.. – I don’t think he has ever said he wasn’t gay in the past, he always ignored the question or skirted around it.
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Of course no one with a brain is shocked……..however, it is so obvious that he really had no choice but to come out. It kind of sucks that gay celebs such as himself feel the need to hide their sexuality……..and in some cases (like dear Clay here) hiding it does NO GOOD……..;-)………it is just too bad it is even an issue.
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
i would have never guessed…no just kidding.
well, good for him :]
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Its about time!
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
It breaks my heart, I used to LOVE him, but good for Clay!
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
You know how J-Lo and Christina Aguilera didn’t confirm their pregnancies until they were like, eight months along and huge? This is kind of like that.
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
You have to think the relief of not having to constantly defer the question anymore must be huge. That’s a lot of stress. When you are in public life there isn’t any privacy anymore, not always fair, but that’s the way it is. Good luck to him and his little kiddo and mother.
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
…still waiting for Ryan Seacrest….
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:37 pm
that baby is cute!
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Not a fan of Clay’s but I do wish him and his family well. His son is a cutie. I am always taken aback by people who didn’t know that he was gay though.
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
All together now… “Duh!”
Good Job!!
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Ummm…MAYBE RICKY MARTIN WILL COME OUT NEXT WEEK :)
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
It’s about time he finally went public with it. It’s not a shock to find out he’s gay that’s for sure.
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
“Even tho I am not a Clay Aiken fan (in the least, I don’t like an thing that he does actually)…”
I’m not a Claymate by any strech of the imagination, but how can you disregard his work with disabled children? The Bubel – Aiken Foundation? He’s a UN Goodwill Ambassador, for pete’s sake! It’s quite possible that you were refering to only his musical abilities, but to say that you don’t like “an thing that he does” implies that you are including his charity work and his humanitarian work.
Tsk. Tsk.
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:12 pm
“Kate”… it breaks your heart? Why? Hes gay, hes not terminally ill.
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
… and honestly if you did not know he was gay, you must have never seen him perform before.
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
it’s about time
i think it was pretty obvious…
you know the way he sings in all…i bet all the “claymates” are surprised by the news :p
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
took fucking long enough
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
“about 2 hours ago how does ‘People’ magazine get all the gays? I wonder if they offer free shoes or something?”
lmfao
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
No, they offer toaster ovens! LOL. (I hope someone gets that….) But back to Clay, well, it’s SO not surprising. Good for him!!! I’m not exactly a Claymate, but I have seen him in concert. He toured with Kelly Clarkson…now, if SHE came out that would make me happy! haha ;) (And no, I don’t know that she is gay, most likely not…)
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I used to think he way gay, along with half of the American population, and I’m glad he’s finally admitted it. That doesn’t hinder my liking for him. I also think it’s great for him to be a dad to that baby boy. He’ll do a good job.
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I thought that was Cynthia Nixon circa 2000 on the cover…ok ok that was immature lol…. this is long overdue but he was prolly very scared and nervous. How many more of these People “I’m gay” cover stories do we need? People must pay the most cash. This makes three. I assume Ryan or Ricky is next. People loves the gays (Ellen and Portia’s coverage was huge)..it’s a great thing! I really don’t understand how a 50 yo could give birth. Sorry but it’s selfish. She’ll be near 70 when he graduates HS and Parker will need his Mom. I can’t imagine having an 80 yo Mother (I’m near 30). 40 is one thing, but 50–wow.
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Wow.. good for him… He kind of looks like a chick on the cover.
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Good for him. I mean, come on. Who didnt think he was gay? it was just a matter of time, but I think he’ll be a great father. Good for him
September 23rd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I gotta say-what a CUTE baby!
Congrats and mad props for confirming my suspicions. :)
September 23rd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Wow, and I thought Lance Bass coming out was anti-climactic. I guess there is a good reason for Clay to do so at this time, for his son. His fans (whoever they may be these days) will continue to love him nonetheless, and the rest of us will begin the endless speculation on who he is hooking up with or continue not caring/not knowing who he is.
All is well in the world of minor celebrities.
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
WHAT??? CLAY GAY??
NEXT YOU ARE GOING TO WRITE THAT BARRY MANILOW IS GAY…..
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Who cares about him saying stuff we already knew, look how freaking cute his baby is! Cutest baby on the cover of People this year by far.
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I think everyone knew he was gay… but i think he is using his kid to be on a cover and make money from this, like most celebs put there baby on the cover for money, unlike good celebs like angie and brad, who donate there money, gayken is looking to make a wuick buck, and obviously people needed more then a pic of him and son, and needed a good story to go with it.
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Um, who gives a shit?
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:22 pm
I’m still waiting for Ricky.
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I definitely used to consider myself a ClayMate (not so much anymore but I am still a fan and supporter of Clay) and I think it is about time he came out. I am glad for him, he deserves all of the happiness in the world. He seems like the sweetest guy ever, I don’t know how anyone could dislike him. He’s just so sweet! Good for him, and shame on those who are making fun of him. He did a very brave thing by coming out.
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 pm
It’s kind of sad that this is such an issue. I feel like this is one of the few cases where guys have it worse than girls. There have been countless gay jokes done about Clay, as if being homosexual is a punchline.
I wish that people could just hold hands with their partner without having to issue a public statement or have to face the “Is /she or isn’t s/he?”
I commend Clay for his courage, but I just hope we get to the day where People doesn’t have to issue covers over this.
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:33 pm
OMG I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!!!
not that he’s gay but that he finaly admitted it!!
like i thought he was not in the closet but in the freakn attic where he himself didnt even realise it :P
wow. im glad he can openly admit it.
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I really wish…I could have been in the room with every person who’s ever gone off on me for saying he was gay when this story broke.
I’m glad he’s admitted it- finally. I mean it really is no one’s business if he didn’t want to say, but I never got why he bothered denying it…
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
You know how unsurprised I was? I read the People Magazine cover and didn’t even register the big “Yes, I’m Gay!” quote until I looked at the headline of the article and then re-read the mag cover looking for the admission of Gay! Hello! Is ANYBODY suprised? I’m glad he FINALLY admits it. Yay for him! And isn’t his son the cutest? :)
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:13 pm
I wonder if Clay’s mother raised him to lie? I respect the fact that he finally admitted what everyone already knew, but to do it on the pages of People somehow doesn’t strike me as anything but opportunistic.
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
i can’t believe it was huffpost that first alerted you to this story. Do you regularly read the site? I first got into it by hearing Arianna Huffington on kcrw’s left, right, and center. I’m glad that all of today’s interests are amassed and backed by a wonderfully accented woman.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 pm
The coming out process is difficult and involves alot of uncomfortable moments (believe me) … I can’t imagine what it must be like to go through that in the public eye (especially when people in your own community insult you and make jokes). I would imagine Clay has felt very isolated. I hope he can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy life more openly now.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:50 pm
It’s great for him that he’s out and has a new baby and all… but why is it that some ‘celebs’ wait until their 15 minutes is up to come out? It just seems like such a publicity stunt, and coming out shouldn’t be such a big, magazine cover inducing ordeal.
TR Knight, Ellen, Neil Patrick Harris: these are the people we should really be applauding and recognizing courage in. They came out at the peak of their success. It didn’t hurt or help them (career-wise), but their honesty made them seem more human.
When people like Clay Aiken make a big deal over coming out when their spotlight has faded… it just comes off as a little bit desperate and kinda sad.
Being gay is great, being open about it is wonderful. Using it as a way to garner attention from the public? That’s just disappointing. Especially when he had so much opportunity to come out and make it a non-issue. In 2008 coming out and expecting some sort of big reaction or fanfare just seems sort of regressive. Haven’t we moved beyond that?
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:27 pm
yeah i totally agree zachery, clay’s 15 mins are up a long time ago, and now looking to be talked about so now he feels its time to put that out there in a magazine. dollar signs i see in Clays eyes
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Good for him! I admire him for all the great work that he does. And I have a huge amount of respect for him. I saw him perform a few years ago and I was very impressed! GO CLAY!
September 24th, 2008 at 12:23 am
Mixed feelings: It seems like some of these stars only come out when they have nothing to lose professionall — think Lance Bass, Clay Aiken, Ellen DeGeneres. Coming out only helped their careers, if anything (though it’s too soon to say for Clay. But while he’s got a nice market in holiday songs and things like that, his career could only to stand to benefit from this.
On the other hand, total props to him. In spite of everything, it always takes courage to come out, and I’m sure being famous and in the public eye, you bear a certain burden of representation that might prevent you from coming out. (Aside from the financial incentive to stay closeted.) So, good for Clay, good for raising his kid with honesty, and now let’s see who the next person to come out is! I’m looking forward to someone REALLY FAMOUS coming out, someone who has a lot to lose, and thereby displays even more courage. On another note, it’d be great if the mainstream media covered trans folks better.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:48 am
who really cares about this guy any more??? booooring, and duh, no brainer…
September 24th, 2008 at 4:09 am
Why do people who are gay have to announce it like we all deserve to know? You don’t see Brad Pitt saying YES I’M STRAIGHT…why should homosexual people have to ‘come out’ and tell the world their private life, as if we deserve to know? We don’t. It’s their life…who cares if you’re straight or gay or bi or nothing in between.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:56 am
eh, well — better late than never but did Clay Aiken actually think he needed to announce what the world already knew?
http://lifeisacookie.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/theyre-just-trying-to-sell-magazines/
September 24th, 2008 at 6:41 am
They look adorable, congrats to him! Clay has a very respectful stance on other’s personal lives, so I hope the public extends him, and his family, the same courtesy.
September 24th, 2008 at 7:26 am
I think he has to come out now that his kid is calling him “mommy”
September 24th, 2008 at 7:34 am
[...] Não diga? Verdade? Jump to Comments Clay Aiken é gay. Não diga? Verdade? (Pink is the New Blog) [...]
September 24th, 2008 at 8:30 am
why is he wearing those Sarah Palin glasses?
September 24th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Forget Clay coming out, the mother of that baby is 50????? That is shockingly selfish. Someone else already pointed this out but I just have to reiterate it. At least Clay is younger and will hopefully be there for Parker when he grows up. Seriously, though. If you’re 50 and suddenly have maternal urges, get a dog. Don’t have a baby!
September 24th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Good lord Vaquera, you think that this woman is going to die of natural causes in the next five years or something? She’s FIFTY, not a hundred and four. Even if she dies at the relatively young age of seventy, she still gets to see him grow up, graduate high school, all of his firsts…
And if she gets to the average lifespan in the US, which is around 80, she’d probably get to see him graduate university, get a job, maybe start a family. If she lives past that, then she’ll probably get to see all the big stuff. Fifty is kind of young now.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Jerika, seventy isn’t “relatively young.” It’s… the life expectancy. And it sucks to think that kid’s mom will never meet his kids, or perhaps never see him graduate college.
Rose, etc., the reason celebs don’t have to say “YES I’M STRAIGHT” is simple math. Allegedly, 10% of the population identifies as gay. Therefore, the vast majority doesn’t, so it’s logically sound to assume someone is straight until they say otherwise. Very, very basic statistics – not really something to bitch about.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
what’s up with the SUPER SHORT post today????
September 25th, 2008 at 5:00 am
http://pinkisthenewblog.com/home/2008/09/thank-you-reykjavik-island/
September 25th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Actually, seventy is about ten years younger than the life expectancy. How exactly do you know that she’ll never meet his kids? Average life expectancy (which is 79 for Jaymes) is just that: AVERAGE. She could live to be a hundred. Having kids at fifty isn’t selfish. Vaquera seems to think that since Jaymes is fifty, she’s going to die next week.
Maybe having kids at all is selfish. Clay could get hit by a bus. And the oh my god, he wouldn’t get to see Parker grow up! People die, and it can happen at anytime. Sarah Palin is like, forty-five, and she just had a baby. Is that selfish? Men have babies older than fifty all the time, and their life expectancy is even less.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
HOLY SHIT!! HE’S GAY?! Well, I’ll be that little monkey he’s holding ’s Uncle! What is this world coming to when at least every three month’s somebody “comes out”. When are Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards and Val Kilmer all going to be on the cover of People declaring they have been domestic partners since 1986? Come on Val, give the other two that final “push”. Isn’t mighty curious that K.D lang and Sean Penn look almost like Brother/Sister-Sister/Brother-Same person? Hmmmm….
September 26th, 2008 at 1:19 am
I’m not a fan of Clay but go him!
It was hard enough for me to come out as a lesbian to my mother, imagine coming out to millions of people!
But, good for him. And I wish him and his son the best of luck! Along with the rest of his family.
September 26th, 2008 at 8:49 am
I thought he was taking that one to the grave. Way to go Clay.
October 17th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Clay Aiken is dating Andy Dick. I saw him in NYC in the Chelsea area having lunch with Andy at a local gay cafe. They had their hands on top of each other and Clay was laughing at Andy because Andy was cracking jokes. They are a couple. I am glad he came out. He doesn’t have to hide anymore.