Clay Aiken Interview - “I was terrified to come out here on stage…”

Clay Aiken is interviewed by Entertainment Tonight from the backstage of the musical Spamalot in NYC, where he’s in the midst of his second run as Sir Robin.

He tells ET he took the Broadway gig to be able to spend more time with his three-and-a-half-month-old son Parker, and the baby’s mother and good friend, Jaymes Foster.

Clay admits he was “terrified” about performing on Broadway the week after he came out, fearing he’d get booed. Of course that didn’t happen–he was greeted with cheers and applause instead.

Life since Clay’s coming-out as a gay man has been so normal, he now realizes the friends who were urging him to do it were…absolutely right.

ETA: Rodney Ho (got me Rodney! Heh) reports that a Clay Aiken True Hollywood Story will debut on E! December 12….

Check out the Video interview, after the Jump…

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13 Responses to “Clay Aiken Interview - "I was terrified to come out here on stage..."”


  1. 1 pj Dec 1st, 2008 at 1:11 pm

    Good for Clay. He looks and sounds happy. I had to chuckle about this, though:

    Clay admits he was “terrified” about performing on Broadway the week after he came out, fearing he’d get booed.

    I mean, it’s Broadway! ;-)

  2. 2 cheese Dec 1st, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    I mean, it’s Broadway! ;-)

    Plus, it’s Spamalot! People don’t judge Lancelot and Prince Herbert, do they?

    I took my mom to see Clay in Spamalot (again) on Saturday night and he was fantastic (again).

  3. 3 tinydcfan Dec 1st, 2008 at 1:45 pm

    “He owns us” lol

  4. 4 Glamour Dec 1st, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    He did the right thing in coming out. You can’t live your life living a lie. I can’t imagine the stress he was under. As for the people who were certain he was straight, well it’s their own fault. Hopefully, it cleared out the fans, who were not really fans to begin with.

  5. 5 Allison Dec 1st, 2008 at 2:17 pm

    I’ve been trying to watch this video all day at work.

  6. 6 CathyMK Dec 1st, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    Clay looks so relaxed and happy. What a year he’s had- it seems like he’s in a really good place in his life now. I’m happy for him.

  7. 7 pj Dec 1st, 2008 at 3:20 pm

    I took my mom to see Clay in Spamalot (again) on Saturday night and he was fantastic (again).

    Maybe I’ll try to catch it next time I’m in NYC if he’s still in it. Glad you and Mama Cheese had a good time.

  8. 8 gingerly Dec 1st, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    Good for Clay. It’s never easy coming out and nobody can tell you when the right time is. I’m just thinking his sense of relief must be massive. I’m not a fan of his music but I am definitely a fan of his humor and his person.

  9. 9 IdolFanatic Dec 1st, 2008 at 5:01 pm

    He is such a sweetheart…always has been and seems that he always will be.

  10. 10 oceana Dec 1st, 2008 at 10:45 pm

    That’s a sweet interview. It’s the kind you need to see, not read about, to get the full flavor of it. Clay’s more relaxed and more himself now, I believe, since he came out, and also he seems so at home doing theater. This is the Clay I really care about, when he’s just being himself. He’s adorable in this video.

  11. 11 JOJOSIE Dec 1st, 2008 at 11:30 pm

    Clay looks like he might have put a little weight on. He’s probably very settled down now and happy. It wasn’t a shock to me and many others but I bet it was a hard thing for him to come out due to his religion and southern upbringing. Glad he did it and I’m sure most of his fans are still with him.

  12. 12 pj Dec 1st, 2008 at 11:48 pm

    I attended my first drag show in the south. It’s not all that rare…

    It’s not easy to come out, though, no matter where you live. I’m glad Clay has found some peace.

  13. 13 gabam Dec 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 am

    I’m happy for Clay. I’m also happy that his initial fears were not realized.

    I remember when Lance came out. He was a bit afraid of how his fans would take it. He was floored by the outpouring of love and support.

    It’s great that Clay can now live his life as best for him and his family.