Clay's Aiken's Overdue Honesty

Your first comment was correct - it's none of your business, nor anyone else's. Clay is a phenomenally talented singer who debuted on a TV show, then launched a successful career. Non-celebrities deal with their own personal issues privately, as they should. His 'celebrity' shouldn't require him to share intimate details of his life, just becasue you have a morbid curiosity & want to sell papers. He's a good guy, who simply wanted to keep his private life just that - private. You joy at the "gotcha" regarding his coming out is disgusting. You have NO idea what difficulties this human being has endured over the years, and how he deals with it should be his choice - publicly & privately. Unfortunately, the predatory media has decided that they must invade a celebrity's personal life so they can get a juicy story. It doesn't reflect poorly on him, it reflects horribly on the already dis-respected media.

The author is clearly mad he didn't get the scoop on Aiken coming out. Clay didn't owe you an explanation about his private life. You asked rude questions and got evasive answers. I realize this is your job, but don't blame Aiken for not answering. Why do gay people have to announce they are gay? Why don't we expect heteros to announce they are straight? Despite all the progress you claim society has made, there IS still a stigma.

Not our business. Really. I don't want to know. I don't need to know. His business. Not ours.

What do you mean, too little too late.........Not our business..... Really. I don't want to know. Don't need to know. His business. Not ours.

Who cares? And exactly why is it our business? I liked Clay Aiken for his singing, still do. I might not like all his songs, don't like his latest hairstyle, but I really don't care who he is attracted to. Nobody should have asked in the first place. He said he didn't figure it out for himself until he was in college and he was still finishing when he did American Idol, so he hasn't had much time to deal with anything without the red hot lights of those that think it is their business to hound people about such things. It isn't up to any of us to judge. Just leave him alone.

In the spirit of full disclosure, why doesn't Ramin Setoodeh tell readers he's gay??

Wow. To the author, Ramin Setoodeh:

Shame on you for being so judgmental! Quite obviously Clay Aiken is a very conflicted young man. His sexuality is NO ONE'S BUSINESS - not even Newsweek's.

I am stunned by your lack of compassion and understanding. He is someone who is just trying to be an entertainer by making music (albeit terrible music) and acting on stage. What is wrong with society? Why does anyone feel the need to know what goes on in his bedroom? Some things (sexuality, relationships, children) should be off limits. Period. Good for him for putting you in your place.

I expect this from People magazine, but Newsweek writers should have a little more class than this.

Wow. To the author, Ramin Setoodeh: Why do you even care? Obviously Clay Aiken is a very conflicted young man. His sexuality is NO ONE'S BUSINESS - not even Newsweek's. I can't believe your lack of compassion to someone who is just trying to make music (albeit terrible music) and act on stage. Society's view of celebrities is twisted. We don't need to know EVERYTHING about them and we don't own them! Some things (sexuality, relationships, children) should be off limits. Period.

Newsweek writers should have a little more class than this.

homosexuality is as old as the hills...older than your bible, older than jesus...its nothing new and its really time for you as "modern and civilized people" to understand that its not going anywhere.

done.

to every and all bible thumping radicals... its time for you all to get over the fact that people are gay because:

a) ive heard from numerous people say that "god doesnt make mistakes"....hmmm interesting...that would explain then that god must have MENT FOR HIM and all other homosexuals TO BE GAY...

b) you do realize that the "bible" was written by dozens if not hundereds of authors, translated time and time again, rewritten, edited, reprinted, and interpreted into hundereds of languages differently over the course of...oh.. some 2,000+ years? ever wonder if one of those people was a homophobic and just threw that little line in there about it being a sin because HE, he being whatever/whoever author wrote that psalm, was a homophobe? you do realize that your omnipotent god never wrote a word of the bible himself/herself so who are you to say its the gospel truth?

c) if being gay is a sin for all life, why are animals gay too? and if it is such a sin, then why would your wonderful god basically invent homosexuality only to say later that its all of the sudden a sin? hence back to my original statement of people saying that "god doesnt make mistakes"... that would seem to be a big mistake to me...

the bible has some great stories and life lessons in it dont get me wrong, its a great tool to get through life...

B-basic
I-instructions
B-before
L-leaving
E-earth

and also the original translation of the word BIBLE is...drum roll... "BOOK"...

for the record...the author of this artivle is more of a pansy than the gayest/flamboyant man i know because your whining that Mr. Aiken didnt give you the answers you sought after. go write for the tabloids and stop crying...

Well stop the presses. Stayathomemomma is the only person alive that has not sinned and can call herself a Christian. Even if you do think being gay is a sin (which I don't) it would not exclude you from being a Christian, just like drinking, adultery (any sex out of wedlock) or stealing would not exclude you from being a christian.

I have only been reading Newsweek for about 2 years now, but this is truly the most narrowminded and pointless stories I've read in some time. Ramin, you need to do follow up stories written by Fareed Zakaria, maybe then you'd get a glimpse of what journalism is suppposed to be. You are giving Newsweek a bad name and making me question why I read, what I thought, was a good news source.

Zachary31'st intolerant comments below illustrate perfectly what I was trying to say about the difficulties of coming out in a society that remains abrasive towards gays. "If you want to be gay, then be gay but don't call yourself a Christian. And please do not blame 'pressures of Christianity' on being dishonest." Words quite clearly coming from someone who lack compassion, incapable of putting himself in another's shoes. Thanks, Zachary31 for providing a perfect example of why it *is* still difficult for gays to come out.

I am not a 'claymate', nor am I homosexual. This young man owes you and the world absolutely nothing by way of an explanation of his sexuality. Frankly, if you're not having sex with him, why are you so obsessed? Perhaps you're hiding something from yourself as well. The world is falling apart, and you're writing a story about Clay Aiken's sexuality? Go write for the tabloids, where you belong. This is a disgrace.

Unless you have been called "sissy, gay or ***" all your life when all you are trying to do while growing up is "fit in", then you have absolutely no idea what it is like. I also was raised in a consertive southern family and knew in order to deal with being gay myself that I had to leave my family and friends and go to a larger city where the views were more opened minded. I did not come out until I was 30 years old and still worry about how I am viewed by people I work with. I could care less what anyone else does in their private life as long as it is not hurting anyone else. You seem to think that because it is 2008 that views of gays are different. Well just look at what you just said. I am sure that if any major male actor came out he would no longer get the major films! I am shocked that Newsweek would allow such a narrow minded person to print such trash! I will finish by saying " Judge not lest you be judged"!

Yes, Newsweek probably has better things to talk about than Clay Aiken's sexuality but than here I am writing this comment and so are many of us. Celebrity talk is what sells and as long as it does, it will be reported.
I think Clay Aiken needs to do some soul searching of his own. I can't pretend to know what's inside his head, but I think the issue lies in the fact that he's denied the truth for so long that his sudden "coming out" reaks less of honesty and more of "I want to grab the media's attention again." In addition, blaming his dishonesty on his Christian roots is mortifying to Christians and to himself. If you want to be gay, then be gay but don't call yourself a Christian. And please do not blame "pressures of Christianity" on being dishonest. He claims that now that he has a son, he wants to be honest because "he wasn't raised that way" to being dishonest? The more I talk about this the more annoyed I get at Clay Aiken. Which foundation does he stand on? The fact that his "Christian roots" forced him to be in denial about himself or the fact that "his Christian roots" taught him good morals like honesty? The bottom line is that he is trying to have his cake and eat it too and the sad fact is that he has neither. He's blaming his values and denying any responsibility. Sorry, buddy, life does not work that way.

I am very disappointed in this article. The authors air of superiority and audible tones of scorn for this man???s personal decision to share his sexuality with the world are far from journalistic or editorial, they are petty and know-it-all. The blatant reinforcement of stereotypes, calling American idol one of the gayest TV shows, only illustrates the authors own prejudices and ideas about what ???gay??? is And the assumption that this is 2008 and therefore everyone is accepting of gays and it is ridiculous to think that it could hurt a persons career, well, this is simply naive. It is very apparent that the country is not fully accepting of gays; the fact that gay marriage is a key issue in the presidential race is a good indicator of this. It is unfortunate that a Newsweek reporter wrote such a short sighted, scornful and uninformed piece and a further disappointment that the editors at Newsweek allowed this to be posted under magazines name.

I wouldn't pretend to know when an individual "should" come out in a society which is still largely homophobic and in which large pockets of people are openly malicious - even violent toward gays. Too little, too late? Sure, we'd be better off if every gay person the U.S. came out at once. But would each individual gay person? What relationships would be shattered? What familial ties would be severed? I'm not even a fan of Aiken's. I just don't think you should pretend to read his mind. And to say that Lohan dealt with it easily, so he should, too is to pretend there's a level socio-religious playing field providing an identical backdrop for everyone in the United States. There isn't. And you're saying "he shoulda done it this way" hearkens back to the old conservative mantra of "pull yourself up by your own boostraps, pal." Cold, removed, and not at all compassionate.