Clay tired of gay queries
Singer Clay Aiken has a new CD out this week but what is getting the most attention is the speculation over whether or not he is gay. My policy is to not join in on this speculation. I think we should all respect people, famous or not, and let them decide when they are going to come out.
But since Clay did talk to Diane Sawyer about the topic today on "Good Morning America," I wanted to share his thoughts on the topic:
On the speculation about his sexuality: I've gotten to a point now where I, A., am tired of trying, and B., I feel it's kind of invasive, you know? What I do in my private life is nobody's business anymore."
Since his 2003 when he was the runner-up on "Idol," Aiken says people have assumed they have the right to ask, "Is Clay Aiken gay?"
"It's one thing to try to be open and talk to people and try to share as much as I can and, and of course I want to," he says. "But at some point it becomes just really rude, you know?"
Aiken says he doesn't understand the public's curiosity or Sawyer's: "I don't understand why it's any of your business," he tells the blonde newswoman. "I don't think you're rude because I figure, you know, people have a job to do."
"I'm not spending my time with this anymore," he adds. "This is a waste of my time."



It's a tough spot for a journalist: Do you cover Clay Aiken and ask the question ... cover him and NOT ask ... or NOT cover him at all?
At a certain point, the rumors become a publicity roadblock, if not a career roadblock as well.
Greg, I don't know if you saw the giant Barry Manilow story in the L.A. Times recently, but it made no mention of even the rumors regarding Mr. Manilow's sexual orientation. Now if I'm the assigning editor of this story, I tell my reporter this: If we don't at least address the question and get some kind of response -- even if it's evasive, then we don't do the story. And if the story is contingent on NOT discussing the matter, then it's OK to say "no story, sorry."