American Idol: Should We Care if Adam's Gay?

Should we care if Idol’s front-runner Adam Lambert is gay or not?

By Ted Casablanca, Becky Bain May 12, 2009 1:02 PMTags
Adam Lambert, American IdolRay Mickshaw/FOX

Leather-pants lovin' Adam Lambert's scoring magazine covers even before winning American Idol (which we're certain is a sure thing at this point), but it's the makeup'd man's sexual preference that are getting more buzz than his vocal chops.

Ad's keeping mum on whether he's gay or not, to frustrate all of Miss Cali's compadres watching, probably. "I have nothing to hide. I am who I am," he's said—but we've heard the relationship status about pretty much every other contestant, while Ad's backstory is mysteriously missing. Hey, cheers for the dude not willing to finagle for first place!

So what would happen if Adam Lambert was out and proud on Idol? Would it affect his chances at winning? Reality show judges and Idol experts weigh in on the sexuality sitch...

"Who cares, for God's sake!" So You Think You Can Dance judge Mary Murphy exasperated to us the BAFTA/L.A. Comedy Festival. "It shouldn't matter. They're there to sing, dance, whatever it is. That drives me nuts."

Let's ask your cojudge and ex-Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe, since he's been around the A.I. block. Should we just not give a damn if Adam's into dating dudes?

"When I go in to have an operation, I don't say to the surgeon, 'Are you straight or are you gay?' If I watch a movie, I'm not interested if the actors are straight or gay. Someone said to me back when I was producing Idol, 'I understand so-and-so is a lesbian.' And I said, 'Oh, is that illegal in this country?' I don't get it."

No, Nigel, it's not illegal, unless ya wanna get married somewhere other than New England. Will all this attention on Ad maybe being gay affect his chances at winning?

"I'm disappointed that sexuality comes into it. On So You Think You Can Dance, I ask male dancers to be masculine when they dance, but I'm not asking them to be gay or straight. I don't think sexuality should affect their talent or anything else. I'm disgusted by it."

Heck, even Simon Cowell is flapping his gums to Oprah that he thinks the Ad man's on track to win Idol. "He's got swagger," Simon says.

OK, we gotta play devil's advocate and say we love the gutsy glam-screecher no matter what sexual side he lands on.

But an openly gay winner to the biggest TV show in boob-tube history, chosen by every American out there with a cell phone? It would be too fab! Maybe Lambert will feel a li'l bit more open the last two weeks of season eight? Fingers crossed!
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