Clay Aiken Reflects On Fatherhood, Coming Out

People:

While Aiken's coming out generated significant interest on Internet blogs, it's the singer's status as a new dad that he says makes 2008 the most memorable.

"At the end of the day, Parker is the most important thing of the year, and of my life, without question," Aiken, 30, tells PEOPLE. "Having a son and that type of responsibility is obviously going to be something that I remember forever."

Still, Aiken, is mindful of the widespread support he received after coming out. "We've been very impressed and my heart has been thoroughly warmed to find people very supportive," he says.

Read the whole story: People

Comments

[cubbywan]

02:54 AM on 01/13/2009

CONGRATULATIONS on a great 2008, Clay! Broadway stardom, fatherhood, freeing yourself to be open and true to the world, a new love in your life, a wonderful personal CD that you should be extremely proud of..... my whole family applauds you and is very proud of you. THANK YOU again for the extreme kindness to my daughter. You are wise beyond your years and an admirable young man. Not to mention mega-talented - those who don't know that haven't been paying attention.

[spiderbucket]

09:47 AM on 12/23/2008

American Idol is fixed and so is Clay.

[FabulousAt52]

09:44 AM on 12/23/2008

Heres the other thing, Clay is gay, so big whoop. Clay is just 30 yrs old, again big deal, and Clay has been a father for about 3 and a half minutes....

now he's "reflecting" on all that experience and wisdom and "sharing" it with us all....

How lucky can we get!?? Still Don't Care.

Happy Holidays!

[jeando]

01:25 PM on 12/23/2008

You don't care enough that you've already responded in this thread more than a few times.

So transparent. If you didn't care, you wouldn't be following stories about Clay all over the internet.

[FabulousAt52]

02:01 PM on 12/23/2008

ONE thread in ONE section of a news and entertainment site that I've been reading and commenting on for many many months-- does not "following stories about Clay all over the internet" make.


Nice try, though.

[FabulousAt52]

02:04 PM on 12/23/2008

Jeando:

Can YOU say..... "sock puppet"?

[spiderbucket]

09:40 AM on 12/23/2008

What a talentless DORK. He is a karoake singer.

[auramac]

10:16 PM on 12/22/2008

I'm all for gay rights and parenthood, but do not believe arrogant, egotistical morons should be parents.

[JSDKoeln]

05:15 AM on 12/23/2008

Well, then that rules out about all of the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family crowd!!!!

[cubbywan]

02:16 PM on 12/22/2008

Well, I care. This man did something wonderful for my daughter that he in no way had to. It literally changed her life. I won't go into details to protect privacy, but it completely changed my mind from someone who did not care at all to someone who will now always care. He's quite a remarkable fellow. Thank you, again, Clay, from "the chauffeur" of the "tribe."

[FabulousAt52]

08:52 AM on 12/22/2008

NEWSFLASH!!



NO ONE CARES.

[homefair]

09:08 AM on 12/22/2008

Wrong. Plenty of people do. If you don't, why did you read it & then go as far as to comment?

[OGoodGrief]

10:21 AM on 12/22/2008

Actually, I agree with FabulousAt52. No one cares. The gay community continues to believe that who they chose to sleep with is a big deal to everyone when it's only important to them. They have let themselves be defined by their sexuality -- something that is truly insignificant in the grand scheme of things -- rather than by what they contribute to society as a human being. And, it's one of the reasons that the gay marriage issue continues to be voted down. No one cares who I sleep with so why should I care about who they sleep with -- it's doesn't matter.

[FabulousAt52]

10:26 AM on 12/22/2008

Ummm... I didn't read the story, only the headline. (Because I really DON'T care)

As for the comment...it only took about 1.75 minutes of my time. I'm on vacation, got lots of time. :-)

[jeando]

02:25 PM on 12/22/2008

NEWSFLASH!!

Don't pretend now that you didn't harass him for the last 5 years to come out of the closet.

You wanted it....you got it.

The new face for out and proud gay dads everywhere. Deal with it!!!

[firelord5000]

01:24 AM on 12/22/2008

Why is this clown famous? He came 2nd on the show, is a terrible singer etc.

[homefair]

11:01 AM on 12/22/2008

Well, since you asked.... the "Idol" producers have pretty much in not so many words admitted that he did win. His debut single & album were the biggest sellers for a new artist in decades & he's still sold more than any male from the show, he's still had the most successful tours of anyone from the show. Just because you don't like his music, doesn't make him "terrible." There are plenty of people who appreciated his pretty amazing vocal skills. He's a smash on Broadway, a NY Times bestselling author & also writes & produces some of his projects. But the accomplishment he's most proud of is founding & running a foundation that funds educational & recreational programs where all children with & without disabilities learn & play together, instead of constantly being segregated as they were in the not too distant past. He also devotes his spare time beyond that to traveling to some of the most dangerous areas of the globe on behalf of disadvantaged children for UNICEF. He's famous because he's actually done something worthwhile with his life. How about you?

[harriettubman]

02:12 PM on 12/22/2008

Clay didn't win and AI judges never said no such thing. Clay has a "Broadway" type voice and I said this when he was on the show. Not too many of the contestants have had hit cds anyway. Kelly Clarkson, Kelly Pickler & Fantasia are about it!!! Jennifer Hudson is just coming into her own.

Everybody wants a record contract however, the public doesn't want to hear everybody's voice.

[Spinzone]

11:34 PM on 12/21/2008

I read in a newspaper in the grocery line the other day that Clay and his luvah were going to get some plastic surgery for the baby. Clay thought his nose was a bit too pug and he was looking for a nice arch.

[ralphstj]

10:42 PM on 12/21/2008

Peolple who believe the stuff written in the tabloids deserve to be lied to. Clay has neven been afforded the common courtesy by the media to keep his private life private. He has been dogged since he stepped off the AI stage regarding the "question". The media wasn't interested in his talent, or current project in interviews etc . Only "are you gay". I don't believe for a minuet he has sought the media attention he has received & still is. Blame the media for obsessing over the poor guy's private
life!!

[jeando]

10:14 PM on 12/21/2008

Doesn't matter if people speculated Clay was gay, for him to acknowledge it openly to millions takes big brass balls especially when his fan base is female.

Richard Chamberlain was a hottie and coming out would have affected his career back then. Times are changing, an actor should be able to be open and out and play any part he chooses. If Sean Penn and Jake can play gay men, why can't gay men play straight ones. It's all acting. Grow up America!!!!!

[stepintothelight]

03:36 PM on 12/22/2008

UHM ???... Neil Patrick Harris ... Calm down now Mary ... It happens!!! And don't get me started about Tom Cruise!!!

[DaveOz]

02:12 PM on 12/23/2008

Neil Patrick Harris already had that job when he came out. I doubt they would have hired him if they knew he was gay and they can't exactly fire him now or it would cause a law suit.

[kidflash]

08:31 PM on 12/21/2008

Clay Aiken gay? I will never believe that

[hypnotoad72]

06:06 PM on 12/21/2008

Well, he's got his life. I'm happy for him. He doesn't need to keep reminding everybody else of it; most people have lives and don't have egos requiring everybody else to be reminded of who or what they are.

[NoSillyName]

06:34 PM on 12/21/2008

Most people don't live in the Entertainment Sphere and depend on media to keep their careers alive. Thankfully.

[TakLoufer]

05:12 PM on 12/21/2008

I'll rejoice when an actual talented gay male A-lister comes out of the closet. It's nice to see Neil Pat Harris out but he's strictly a TV player, ditto David Hyde Pierce, who sadly waited until after his run on Frasier, although most of us knew when his most consistent date at awards shows was his blond male companion. Aiken is neither talented nor A-list imo.

[harriettubman]

08:52 PM on 12/21/2008

Why? I believe celebrity gays who want to remain in the closet have a right to do so. What's the point of them coming out and telling the world about his/her sexual orientation? Nothing. Do some gay people need validation for outing people or wanting people to come out? If you feel comfortable about your sexuality in your own skin don't worry about anyone else's. I believe insecure gay people are always the ones wanting to out someone or wishing someone would come out.

Also, if I were a top selling male sex symbol in Hollywood why would I risk my money and career and come out? As a fan of some men who've had stories printed about them, if they came out I would never see them as a leading man again. Same thing with leading vocal artists. A gay man can not sing love songs to a woman. I could never imagine Ellen Degeneres playing a heterosexual wife. No, no, no.

[Bertha40869]

08:30 AM on 12/22/2008

I don't see how that's any different than heterosexual actors who keep their private business private. People like Jodi Foster, Alicia Keys, Tina Turner, etc. Heck, I don't even know if Keys and Foster are heterosexual or not, but it doesn't matter, because its not my business or anyone else's.

[natalypj]

08:36 AM on 12/22/2008

It's been a well known fact for a LONG time that Foster is gay. Granted, it is no one's business but their own -- but where have you been?

[OGoodGrief]

10:28 AM on 12/22/2008

Thank you Bertha40869 -- finally someone with some common sense. It doesn't matter who they sleep with and no one should care. Why some people continue to think it matters and why some feel the need to announce it to the world I'll never understand because it forever defines them by their sexuality instead of by what they contribute to the world as a human being.

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

04:58 PM on 12/21/2008

OMG!!! Clay Aiken is gay????

Alert the presses.

*yawn*