Clay Aiken is speaking out about the awkward exchange he had on-air with Kelly Ripa in 2006, recalling what he described as a “catastrophic” time in his life. The singer reflected on the moment that sparked headlines at that time, offering his perspective on what happened and revealing whether he and Ripa were able to move past the tension.
“American Idol” alum Clay Aiken has broken his silence over an incident that happened with Kelly Ripa 20 years ago. In 2006, the singer was a guest host on “Live with Regis and Kelly,” and during an interview segment, he playfully put his hand over Ripa’s mouth in an attempt to give himself the opportunity to ask questions.
In an interview with “Hollywood Raw,” Aiken was asked whether he and Ripa made up after the incident, to which he responded, “No.”
The singer said that he wasn’t the one who got upset. Aiken said he had seen Ripa at some events throughout the years, but they had never spoken. “Maybe I should feel bad that I have not gone up and said something myself, but she hasn’t either,” he noted.
The Singer Said It Was The ‘Most Catastrophic Week’ Of His Life
Aiken was brought on as Ripa’s co-host in the absence of Regis Philbin in late 2006. The singer said he was being considered to host his own program, and the temporary gig allowed him to show he could hold his own. However, he said he didn’t get to talk much.
“There were cue cards. They had my name on them. So I tried to be funny, and I did what I did, which was incredibly innocent,” he explained, alluding to the moment he placed his mouth over Ripa’s. Ripa seemed taken aback by the action, and Aiken said “it got a little cold in the room.”
“Is that a no-no?” he asked Ripa. The host responded, “Oh, that’s a no, no, no. Don’t know where that hand’s been, honey.”
Aiken doesn’t recall how they parted ways after the episode, but said that what followed was “the most catastrophic week” of his life.
Kelly Ripa Talked About The Incident With Regis Philbin
Ripa didn’t let the awkward interaction slide. Instead, she talked about the incident with Philbin when he came back to the show. Ripa said there was a “lot of impropriety” and “a lack of respect” when Aiken co-hosted. Philbin placated her by saying that the singer must have been nervous, but Ripa doubled down on her opinion.
“You don’t put your hands on somebody’s face and mouth when they’re conducting an interview, even if it’s for a laugh,” Ripa told Philbin and their audience, adding that she received many phone calls about what happened.
Clay Aiken Was Outed On ‘The View’
The issue erupted, and headlines reported on the incident. Even “The View” discussed what went down between Aiken and Ripa.
Rosie O’Donnell opined that what Ripa told Aiken was a “homophobic remark,” adding that if a straight male put his hand over Ripa’s mouth, she doubted the host would have said anything. Ripa called in to the show to defend herself, saying it wasn’t about Aiken’s sexuality. She explained that it was flu season, that she had three kids, and the singer had been shaking hands with people before placing his hand over her mouth.
Aiken told “Hollywood Raw” that he had not publicly come out at the time, even to his family. O’Donnell was one of the few people who knew, and she accidentally revealed it on TV. “Not only did she out me, but they had a big argument about whether I was gay and who talked about me being gay,” Aiken said.
Clay Aiken’s Publicist Turned The Tables
Aiken recalled getting advice from Diane Sawyer, who told him to hold off on sending flowers to Ripa. The singer revealed that his publicist and some interns scoured footage of Ripa placing her hand over Philbin’s mouth, and they sent the clips to the media. Only then did he send Ripa flowers.
Aiken said that Ripa called her later, apologizing for how the incident was “blown out of proportion.” The host also extended an invitation for Aiken to come back on the show, but the singer claimed that every time he attempted to come back, he was “not allowed.”
