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

[johnsonma]

I'm not a fan of Clay's or American Idol, however good for him.

[PublicEnemyNumber1]

Kudos to Mr. Aiken for not succumbing to the tabloids perpetrating itself as "news". I would have done the same thing. The "interviewer" clearly conducted himself as a major asshole when Mr. Aiken indicated that he wanted to leave his past alone. If more public figures would stand up to the media, then maybe TRUE news will return.... I won't hold my breath.

[edweird]

Yeah heteros. Gay people are not compelled to appease your bigotry by publicly identifying as "gay" to facilitate your labeling. No one asks "Are you openly heterosexual?" or criticizes you for not "talking about your heterosexuality in public." Such a double standard!

[Blurp]

That's from that slimy section of Newsweek where they have this tongue-in-cheek interview with some celebrity of one sort or another. I've always thought it was a particularly lame feature. Good for Clay for standing up to such bullshit filler nonsense. I am a Newsweek subscriber, and on the whole it's still a fairly decent publication. It's clear that the "Entertainment Tonight"-ification of all media is completely out of hand and has seeped into respectable journalism, whatever that means anymore.

[hope4theflowers]

the interviewer was incredibly rude and did act like he/she worked for the National Enquirer.It is an common in todays nonsense journalism. News weak,Enquirer..they both serve the same purpose..to obsfucate,distract,"entertain" (usually the lowest forms only)and to just plain say "f u " to intelligent readers whom they are certainly NOT in the business of serving.

[realnoia]

1st time I ever saw Aiken or Ripa and I hope
it's my last. I'm proud of the fact that I
never heard Aiken sing, never watched American
Idol, never seen Kelly and Regis, never heard
her talk, never watch network programs. If my
girl was watching crap like this every freaking
day along with Judge Judy I would GET THE HELL
OUT fast.

[SILVANUS]

So, which is it?

Mainstream society silently telegraphs to gay men that we will like you if you don't make a big deal out of being "special" or gay. Just be like "us", whatever that means, and we won't burn you at the stake.

But then they probe, then, lambast gay men if they don't state it, advertise it. or make it a part of the brand of whatever they are selling.

So, which is it?

[TexPenn]

Clay is Gay? I never would have guessed it...
If he is and wants to "Stay In The Closet"...
That is his business..
If Not...Give me a call...LOL!

[dax5]

what a riot!

I barely know who Clay Aiken is.... meaning I don't listen to his music - never have -- but I say good for him.
If he was put off by what was likely more 'gossip chat' than real journalism, I say bravo.

Journalism in this country has been steadily going down the toilet.

[XCITIZEN]

Wow, I'm impressed. Clay Aiken sounds like a real person. That's cool. No Bullsh*t, no media spin, no fakery. Got my attention.

It's sad how disappointed everyone is when someone actually presents themselves as a 'real person.' I'm sure this interview will make Spamalot a much more interesting draw. GOOD JOB CLAY.

[Steamboater]

What a touchy queen! The reporter just should have asked, "Clay, Are you gay?" and gotten it over with once and for all. It seems like the whole world knows he is except Clay. He and Larry Craig would make good lovers. They could tap dance toegther to their heart's delight.

[tracylouise]

Clay could have a better career, but he is not a nice person. I worked at one of his shows, he was mean to his tour group. He is very self centered and narcissistic. His fans are ALL female, and they scream at the top of their lungs at every little twitch and suggestive gesture. That is why he can't come out. He will lose at least half of his fans, and there goes his income base. I am sure that contributes to his misery. He will have to be closeted until he can or he decides to attract a gay fan base. Kind of a tragic life.

[eidhsubplz]

It puts the lotion in the basket.It does this or it gets the hose again. PUT THE LOTION IN THE FUCKING BASKET!

[Driver125]

Yo...Clay! I would have thought this might be self-evident, but the fact of the matter is, you don't get the pub unless do the interview. You have to say something.....anything-- if you want your stupid mug on the cover. It's sort of how the deal works.

[unpoetaloco]

Poor Clay, it's like he's part Tom Cruise, part Michael Jackson.