Clay Aiken's Incredibly Awkward Newsweek Interview

Newsweek has a "web exclusive" interview with "American Idol" runner idol runner up Clay Aiken to promote his appearance in the Broadway production of "Spamalot". But some of the questions proved stunningly awkward. An excerpt:

How did you get into a fight with that lady on a plane?
I'm not going to talk about it.

I was just curious because you've never talked about it.
I did talk about it.

What about the Kelly Ripa thing?
I'm not going to discuss it.

Did you think it was homophobic?
I'm not going to discuss it.

What do you want to talk about?
I think we're done.

Can we talk about something fun?
No, we're done. I thought NEWSWEEK would be more reputable. I'm surprised.

But I think people are curious about it.
It was a year ago. This is NEWSWEEK. It's not the National Enquirer. I'd hate to have a job where I had to be rude to people.

We're just having a conversation.
Change the subject! I'd never take a job where I had to do something that I didn't want to do.

What about all those Ford commercials on "American Idol"?
That wasn't a job.

It was part of your job.
It wasn't a Ford commercial. It was a music video. It was a completely different thing.

I'll change the subject. What do you do for fun?
I watch the news. I read news magazines, but I'm reconsidering that now.

Read the whole interview here.

Comments

[hiprogloho]

His run-in with Rippa reminds me of that gay red carpet reporter who rapes women and other hosts who openly molest ladies in public.

Funny how some gay celebs somehow feel that they are free to abuse ladies at will and then label them as homophobic if they protest.

[snapsfordiscourse]

this reporter is exactly why people aren't reading newsweek. this magazine has turned into the biggest piece of trash.

[SevenLevels]

What a douchebag!
I started with the excerpt of the awkward part of the interview and moved on to the full interview. I've never heard Clay sing, nor have I any desire to hear him sing, but I find the obsession of his fans simultaneously amusing and annoying, so to hear that he had an "awkward" interview drew me in.
After reading the full interview I hate this man with every fiber of my being. He won a fuckin' talent show and he acts like he's a fucking Beatles alumni who has somehow earned all this attention and acclaim through hard work and perseverance.
And anyone who says, "I thought Monty Python was a person up till 3 months ago" is a stone-cold moron in my opinion.
I'm sorry, but I can't wait till this loser fades away.
Peace,
Kelly

[We]

Saw this University of Michigan course referenced on Andrew Sullivan's blog. Clay might want to sign up:

How to be Gay - Male Homosexuality and Initiation.

http://www.umich.edu/news/index.html?BG/317descr

[SILVANUS]

His music is rather mediocre, yes; my point stands.

[Dehrenstein]

Miss Thing is just so sensitive!

[Alvin4NY]

I was more offended by what he had to say about "Spamalot" and Monty Python, and his general lack of personal interest in the show. It's obvious his career handlers think this is good for him (or one of the only options he has left, now that the initial rush of "Idol" fame is over..) and even after he's been deep in rehearsal for weeks, it still does not sound like he is enjoying the experience. That should be quite a bit of fun for the audience who sees his performances, don't ya think?

[situationcritical]

Several years ago someone whom I considered a close friend, after years of serious heart-to-heart conversations, asked me (and I am being completely serious here) if I believed LIBERACE might have been gay.

Then she told me she voted at the last minute for George W. Bush in 2000.

Haven't heard from her for years.

She's probably a big Clay Aiken fan.

[keystone]

You have to wonder what was Newsweek's purpose for this interview.

Are they reporting the news of the week which would be Aiken's role in Spamelot? Or, is the reporter trying to make the news by harassing Aiken into saying something he is not willing to discuss?

I find the entire Newsweek confrontational "gotchya" mentality insulting and will not bother reading anything more that Nrewsweek has to offer. Don't they have a war in Iraq or something meaningful to deal with like HIVAIDS?

I mean really, how many ambush interviews do they need to acheive world peace!

[mellene]

I wish the media and public were as curious about the outrageous behavior of our government and leave the tabloid journalism to the Star or Enquirer.

[Meswena]

It's ironic that so many here who are admitting that they have never seen nor heard nor listened to Clay Aiken are insisting that he needs to admit that he's gay and get out of the closet. If they were actually informed about the subject, they would know that Mr. Aiken has answered that question many, many times that he's straight. The man is not gay, no matter how badly those who admittedly know nothing about him want him to be. His frustration with the continual hounding was apparent in his interview with Larry King a year or so ago when he said that he'd answered the question every way he knows how and that he's just not going to discuss it any more.

At the beginning of the Newsweek article, the reporter states clearly that Mr. Aiken says that he's straight, so apparently he did answer the question one more time for this rude reporter who seemed to want to pick away at the tired old subject. No wonder Mr. Aiken was so put off by the questions that followed.

[FreedomCorpse]

Good for you Clay. I cancelled a subscription to Newsweek that had lasted over 30 years (parents subscription) because Newsweek has such lousy, unobjective, totally non-journalistic grade articles..­.it belongs right next to the national enquirer on 'non-newstands'. Newsweek only throws in enough truth and journalism to maintain a facade of legitimate credibility.
Hey Huffpo, what is 'awkward' about Clay's 'interview' with newsweek..­..read the questions they asked him, those questions are like something Entertainment Tonight would ask.

[Blutus]

Aiken is such an immense talent
he really doesn't need the media.

He is so gifted that the public will
find him anyway.
Doesn't need the media, American Idol
and certainly doesn't need the public!


Such a vital artist doesn't really need
to anything.

Newsweek? PSHAW! No one reads it!

Clay, like all great artists,
can simply BE!





Is American culture great or what?!

[booker52]

Note to Clay: don't do interviews!!!

[cycle3man]

Good for Clay for basically telling the interviewer to F%3Koff. Love it!