Ha, he did this at the same time and same place as his mtv buzzworthy blog interview…
David Cook is down with the gays. He tells Logo’s NewNowNext Blog that if he could have voted on Proposition 8 in California, he would have voted NO.
David says, “Human rights is human rights, and I don’t really see how sexuality parlays into whether or not you’re a human being.” He adds that in his house growing up, “general tolerance” was “kind of the norm” and that he can’t recall ever feeling uncomfortable with the idea of sexuality, whether it be his own, or anybody else’s.
Does David listen to queer music? Well, a girlfriend turned him on to Ani DiFranco back in college…
Very interesting interview. It’s not often Idols make controversial political statements in public. I find it refreshing. Check it out after the jump.
ETA: Just to amend my “controversial” comment–you’ll notice that Idols rarely give opinions on the big issues of the day. Even when Chris Daughtry did work for the political campaign this year, he took great pains not to choose sides–he performed for both the Democratic and Republican conventions. There’s an expectation for Idols, particularly a sitting Idol, that they don’t rock the boat, because the Idol viewing audience is vast and encompasses all types of people. The fact that David would make a statement on a controversial issue is a real departure for an Idol. Also, if I’m not mistaken, he is the first sitting Idol to interview with a GLBT publication.
Video after the JUMP…
| Gay music and video from NewNowNext.com |
As if I needed another reason to love David Cook. I felt that he was pro-gay, not just because of all the Mavid and Cookleta slash that I’ve been reading since the Finale but I’m so ecstatic to be proven right. I don’t want him to lose fans over this but if he does, then I’d rather he does by doing something right than by playing it safe or lying.
Many others share David’s opinion, so it is not a surprise. What may be more divisive/controversial is the fact he interviewed with a gay website. which has not been done by any AI winner I’m aware of. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Personally, I think this will gain him fans, if anything. He was very tactful, so I think even those who disagree with him on the issue will have to work hard to develop real resentment here. Those who are predisposed against him weren’t going to buy the album anyway, so no big loss.
And if the gay community embraces him, great.
I always got the sense that David was very comfortable with himself and non-judgemental towards others. I like his personality almost as much as I do his music.
I think it would have been more controversial if he had said he supported Prop 8. The entertainment industry has a liberal bent, lots of gay people work in it, you are going to upset a lot of people in your own industry if you say things against gay people. Those entertainers who made anti-gay comments can expect some kind of backlash (remember Donna Summer?). There was for example a musical theatre director who gave money in support of Prop 8 and had to resign when his donation became known. A large proportion of his actors and staff, as well as paying customer are probably gay, he was just incredibly stupid to think that there will be people who will happily work with him in musical theatre land after that.
mandisa said she would not perform at any gay-related related events.
david’s comments make me like him even more.
Hehehe.
Nice interview (and the same flattering background from the MTV one!). I always figured David’s sensibilities were of the open-minded, progressive sort. He’s a natural in every way, because that’s how he was raised. Controversey will be zero, I think. It’s all positive to me.
I just never expected his response to be any different from the one he gave. At all.
I don’t understand why it would be so controversial. Why can’t someone in the national eye speak his or her mind? Say what you want, whether you be Cookie or Mandisa. But, shore up for any response.
I only think it becomes an issue when their opinions differ from our own personal opinions. So, whether this becomes controversial would be on a fan-by-fan basis. However, I doubt there will be any major backlash.
For anyone to say that they won’t support him because of his stance on the issue, then I’d like them to introduce me to the celebrity with whom they agree on every single issue out there. Not gonna happen.
On a lighter note, spoiler from FOD, Fan s of David, Cook video is Number 1 at VH1, Archie is number 2… Cook will be in VH1 tODAY….
I guess I just don’t really care how he feels about it! lol I don’t feel like he shouldn’t voice his opinion but his opinion is really not important to me just as I’m sure mine wouldn’t be important to him. I find it odd that the question got asked in the first place but if anyone wanted to know how he felt, now they know.
Well, out of lurkdom she leaps, and why not pick a big splash topic like prop 8 for starters! LOL Morning everyone, I’m a new poster here, but not at all new to this fabulous blog — yay MJ!! What a fabulous place for all things Idol, and I note you all are “the source” as I’ve now seen you referenced by Ken Barnes and Richard Rushfield too!
So, yeah, on topic, this statement resonates with me: “I just never expected his response to be any different from the one he gave. At all.”
There ya have it. :-) Me, staying out of the fray…
Oh yeah, and, I really don’t understand the sentiment that “celebrities” or high profile folks should refrain from speaking on important topics. I totally get opining about the relative importance of their views, but saying they shouldn’t speak them? The logic behind that position escapes me, totally… unless, I guess, we believe that a person’s worth, or talent, or morality is measured not just by their views but how those views differ from our own… then I suppose I see it. I don’t agree with it, but I see it.
Anyway, great to be here. Hope to get to know you better as time goes on, and hope you don’t dislike me for my views.
Wear–not gonna happen at least from this anyalitcal goofball .I just do not have much repect for Daivd C after idol as once had.This has nothing to do with his stance.Great pains to state 1/4 has to do with some fans was on the fence on cd now being pushed the other way . (tolerance after 5 has lessened)sammy
Not controversial and not surprising. Since day one David has shown himself to me a man of compassion and convictions. His support of Lindsey Rose and his brother Adam come to mind. And his support comes from an authentic place. I think he has his priority’s straight.
For a 25 year old guy he seems super comfortable with who he is. I wish there were more guys out there like him.
One of the many reasons I like Cook. I doubt that Cook thought he was saying anything controversial because in his opinion, equal rights should be a non-issue. However, I have a much harder time predicting what the other top ten idols would say in this situation, so I can see why people find Cook’s statements conroversial. I think I would have been more surprised if Cook had stated his opinions on the war.
Communication is 80% non-verbal (says wise old man on the mountain).
Is it weird that after the @#%nth time, I’ll turn off the sound and watch his interview clips silent just to absorb his facial expressions and body……I mean, body language….?
He’s always always always real, and honest. Nothing fake about this guy. His eyes, eyebrows (LOL), nose (more LOL), hands and all say exactly the same thing his mouth is saying. Never mind. It’s late and i’m high on Davember.
Wuv him *running jump on him and refuses to let go*!
MJ, any chance you’d get Cook’s VH1 visit on video? Appearantly he’s only the 2nd artist in 2008 to debut straight into the #1 position, and I know it’s just a silly countdown, but I’m happy that he got to be there and experience that.
I don’t have VH1, so I hope a video pops up.
Edit: Respect your fellow posters. No name calling
Huh? I don’t quite get that logic. Anyway, for myself I can say I would disagree with him if he had said he would have voted yes on 8. I would have been disappointed, and would have felt that he wasn’t quite the way I thought he was (i.e., tolerant and open-minded about social issues).
He’s entitled to his opinion and free to express it, and people will feel what they feel about it. Personally, if he was in favor of Prop 8, I’d be curious to know why. In other words, I would always champion David’s right (or anyone’s) to speak their mind, but I might have personal feelings about what he said.
I also don’t understand the suggestion that celebrities should refuse to talk to gay media. I’m glad that David didn’t refuse to talk to Logo out of fear of possible repercussions. I don’t think he thinks that way. He’s shown himself to be pretty consistent in the kind of person he is: kind, fair, non-judgmental, a person to be admired.
I think that if celebrities are in favor of gay rights, they SHOULD speak out about it. They should not be afraid to stand up for any human rights they feel are being denied. It almost sounds like some people think that celebrities should keep their opinions to themselves if it’s an opinion they don’t like, in other words, they should not FLAUNT their gay rights support.
Could we please keep this conversation civil? I’m deleting all comments (and the responses to those comments) that include name calling.
I just amended my post a little:
I’m about to edit my VH1 video right now…
Just have to add this thought. David interviewed with dozens of media outlets this week. Wouldn’t he have been small and petty to have refused to interview with Logo? That to me would have been bigotry. I’m so glad he is not a bigot.
ETA: If he’s the first sitting Idol to interview with a gblt publication, wow! Good for him, breaking tradition in order to be inclusive and not exclude a gay publication from the interview process. It does make me proud of him. Maybe it’s time for Idol to get a little more gritty … and real.
I wouldn’t encourage David to comment on his political views right now, as that can be divisive, but when it comes to human rights, imo it’s important to speak up and not shy away from it out of personal considerations. I’m proud that he didn’t play it safe.
It does my heart proud to know that the Idol of my obsession would state his views, let alone even talk to a GLBT publication. I’m just trying to figure out how to parlay this to my sister, an officer on the board of an 80-member GLBT choir in Omaha, who hates (with a passion) all things American Idol. Help?
I would have been surprised. After all, this is the gentle soul who took on the plight of the gnomes over the summer, and asked us all to join him.
That being said, he has the right to free speech, just like everyone else, and we all have the right to agree or disagree.
I’m not particularly worried about the fall out from this, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it gets brought up in other places. The Dixie Chicks made their statements about Bush at a concert in London, not even directly to a reporter, and that sure got spread around. Their career path changed after that, but they seem to have done alright in the end, what with winning all those Grammies and all.
VH1 Top 20 Countdown was great this morning! Lots of Cookie and Archie. Their videos were #1 and #2. Kudos to the fans who voted for them and gave them this honor. I think Archie was #1 last week, and this week it was Cookie. He got an interview and everything. The show is aired again Sunday morning and Tuesday morning if anyone missed it. They showed snippets of the two of them throughout the latter half of the show at least.
More than anything, I adore him for answering the question.
Just like I adored him on the show for not changing his musical identity to score a bigger crowd. He is who he is and sets an amazing example just by doing that.
Like I’ve said before, I’m really irritated by some of the comments Carrie has made recently about loosing respect for celebrities who state their opinion. I’ll never get that statement.
Once DC agreed to this interview, and once they asked the question, he either was going to have to say something that some people might not like, or else was going to have to dodge the question in some way that would have made him look either like he lacked integrity or intelligence. I thought that the way that he answered it was about as calm, rational, and about as nonjudgmental as he could be while still taking a definite position.
gingerly, your sister hating AI may have nothing to do with GLBT issues. Just like the general population, there are GLBT fans and detractors. I think Advocate.com had a weekly humour column by Dave White recapping episodes of AI.
I’m a DC fan, but I was saddened by this interview (though not really surprised). Yes, I know I’m in the minority here because I believe homosexual behavior is wrong, but then, I’m used to being in the minority. And just because I’m a fan, it doesn’t mean I believe 100 percent in everything that person says or does.
He’s always been honest and true to himself and what he believes, so I am not in the least surprised he gave a thoughtful, reasoned, honest answer. There are other things about him that he has never tried to hide — swear words in songs on youtube from before, presence of alcohol in his life (being a bartender, for one), dating Kimberly Caldwell, attachment to all teams Kansas City, attachment to divorced parents and half-siblings — none of which are negatives to me, but might be to somebody. He has said a million times that he is who he is and he’s not going to change it. So, to me, he seems perfectly comfortable with a few people being turned off by SOMETHING, because he doesn’t want to succeed by being a fake and be trapped by some squeaky clean, non-controversial persona that’s a lie.
“It’s so cute, towards the end of the video, they ask him about the ad he did in his underwear.”
Yeah, they ask him that because they’re gay. ahemmmm….
Well, yeah. Ain’t nothing wrong with appreciating DC for more than just his voice.
BTW, Kim Caldwell is super pro-gay. She’s said she has gay folks in her family, and she does a lot of gay functions–pride parades and the like. Just an FYI. :).
I am so proud of him to stand up for what he believes in. Human rights IS human rights. Good for him. Since last year January I have found very, very little not to admire about David Cook. He just becomes more likeable every day.
I can understand why some wouldn’t agree or be disappointed with David’s position on prop 8 but I’m not sure why it would stop them from being a fan. Entertainers are people after all and have opinions like the rest of us. I’m sure he didn’t spend a lot of time worrying about the implications and it’s refreshing for an idol.
I think it’s fantastic. Most people who’ve been on idol are afraid to say or do anything controversial.
So maybe they think he’s cute too, like we do. They must have good taste.
AHHHHHHH!
David Cook continues to win at life!