{"id":2474418,"date":"2026-06-24T23:14:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T23:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2474418"},"modified":"2026-06-24T23:14:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T23:14:30","slug":"clay-aiken-reflects-on-tense-2006-moment-with-kelly-ripa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/clay-aiken-reflects-on-tense-2006-moment-with-kelly-ripa\/","title":{"rendered":"Clay Aiken Reflects on Tense 2006 Moment With Kelly Ripa"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Clay Aiken<\/a><\/span><\/strong> is looking back on his memorable appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly<\/i><\/span><\/a> <\/i>nearly 20 years later.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re talking about something in what [2006]? Twenty years ago this year, which became this huge blowup,\u201d Aiken, 47, shared on the Wednesday, June 24, episode of the \u201cHollywood Raw<\/span><\/a>\u201d podcast. \u201cThat was probably the most catastrophic week of my life, to be honest with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

For those who may not recall the unforgettable moment, Aiken had an awkward exchange with Kelly Ripa <\/strong><\/a>when he placed his hand over her mouth to keep her from talking during an interview.<\/p>\n

The talk show host later called out Aiken for his \u201chostility\u201d and \u201cimpropriety.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Biggest ‘American Idol’ Controveries: Top 14 Vote Delay and More<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tSince American Idol premiered in June 2002, the show, its judges and contestants have become the subject of numerous scandals and controversies. Prior to the days of voting by app for your favorite contestant, fans reported an unfair voting system during season 1 of American Idol when about 100 people used auto-dialing technology to reportedly [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Headlines followed, and The View<\/i> later chose to cover the exchange with then-cohost Rosie O\u2019Donnell<\/strong> calling Ripa\u2019s behavior \u201chomophobic.\u201d (Ripa denied the claims when she called into the show.)<\/p>\n

\u201cI was not out at the time. I was to Rosie. I was out to people who I knew, but I wasn\u2019t publicly out about it,\u201d Aiken said in his latest interview with podcast host Dax Holt<\/strong>. \u201cI was not out to my grandparents and the people in my family. And not only does Rosie call it a homophobic remark \u2014 which I think she accidentally said, and then she tried to walk it back a little bit \u2014 but then Kelly calls in live to The View<\/i><\/span><\/a> that day and they get in an argument over it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aiken maintains that his decision to put his hand over Ripa\u2019s mouth for a moment was \u201cincredibly innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n