Kelly Ripa Says Clay Aiken Acted Inappropriately When He Co-Hosted Her Show

[underpants]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,230722,00.html

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

NEW YORK — Kelly Ripa's definitely not a Claymate.

She especially took issue with Aiken putting his hands over her mouth during an interview. She said you don't do that, even if it's for a laugh.

Ripa told Clay his actions were a "no, no," adding "I don't know where that hand's been, honey."

Regis Philbin said he's shocked the pair didn't hit it off, saying, "In my wildest dreams would I ever think that one day you would have a feud with Clay Aiken."

On The View" Tuesday, Rosie O'Donnell said Ripa's remark about Aiken's hand was homophobic. Aiken has been dogged by speculation about his sexuality but he's never answered.

[Donnachaidh]

1. I wouldn't want Clay's hands on MY mouth either

Wonder what he would have done if she'd messed with his face? Or hair?

[semillama]

2. Homophobic? against what, Gay Microbes?

I'd be nervous about ANY celebrity's hand on my mouth. Icky.

[kestrel91316]

16. Yeah, 'cause you know soap and hot water don't exist.

And those icky gays and celebrities don't ever wash or bathe.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

34. There are nasty germs on your hands...

He probably touched a doorknob between the time he washed his hands last and touched her mouth. I don't think your statement is logical...
Duckie

[Mojambo]

41. It's inappropriate to put your hands on someone elses mouth.

Period. I don't care who you are.

[El Fuego]

94. Totally. Ick.

[XemaSab]

76. Doncha know? Teh Gay is contagious

:o

[JVS]

96. She obviously meant to tell America that gay people like fisting and have filthy...

hands. I guess some people just choose to ignore the bigotry.

[Jed Dilligan]

3. My first reaction:

Who the hell are Kelly Ripa and Clay Aiken?

[anotherdrew]

48. I have no idea who in hell they are either, I strongly suspecty I don't care n/t

[Lautremont]

66. Same.

[Radio_Lady]

98. Well, I know who they are and still don't care much.

However, I believe both his action and her reaction were totally uncalled for... very unprofessional.

I didn't see this particular show.

Wishing you the very best in the coming holiday season,

Radio_Lady

[Lautremont]

102. Thank you, and the same to you.

[NVMojo]

4. she's either a homophobe or an elitist ...jerk

[Warpy]

9. Or maybe she's somebody who doesn't like to be manhandled

by men.

THINK

[Left Is Write]

35. Maybe she just doesn't want other people's hands on her mouth.

I wouldn't.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

36. Yeah...

She's a homophobe because she doesn't enjoy having hands of people she barely knows put on her mouth. Rosie O'Donnell is too fly off the handle sensitive. And you're to quick to jump on stuff without thinking about it rationally in this case.
Duckie

[Shakespeare]

54. Did you SEE the clip of him doing that?

He covered the entire lower half of her face with his hand--it was EXTREMELY inappropriate, and it would've pissed me off if anybody did that to me. One, don't fucking touch me like that if I don't know you, and two, where the hell do you get off trying to physically shut me up?

She's NOT a jerk or an elitist.

[driver8]

59. I don't get the feeling that she's a jerk or elitist, either.

I've watched the show a couple of times and she seems pretty cool.

I wouldn't want someone I hardly knew putting their hand over my mouth, either. I might have a few choice words for him when he took his hand away, too.

Who knows? He might have just used the bathroom and not washed his hands!

Keep your fucking hands to yourself.

[nini]

74. I am so sick of that kind of statement

It really is possible to become annoyed with someone because of something they did. The fact they are gay and they annoyed you doesn't make you homophobic or a gay basher. It means they annoyed you.


btw: the I don't know where your hands have been type statements is not all that uncommon. I've heard that said to straight men many times.

[rsmith6621]

5. He's Gay....

Look at the lipstick


They are two hyperactive egos....what else do you expect..

[greyl]

19. Hah? Wearing lipstick doesn't mean one is gay. nt

[diamidue]

72. I saw him briefly on Martha Stewart

and no, I don't usually watch that show, but I was home sick. Clay said that he knew absolutely nothing about style or clothes and that his manager picked out his wardrobe and hairstyle, etc. for him. Still, he WAS on a cooking show with his mother and grandmother...

I think he is a cutie - gay, straight or in-between.

[karmaqueen]

28. This is an altered picture

Even if he did wear lipstick is than any reason to treat him like that rude diva did?

[Left Is Write]

38. Was she rude? Or was he, by covering her mouth with his hands?

[karmaqueen]

30. He is not gay....

At least at one time he DEFINITELY was not. He may be now but I don't think that is anyones business. Ripa does not have the right to treat him so rudely!!!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

37. Gay or not...

this was not a gay issue.
And she didn't treat him rudely. He basically ASSAULTED HER. I'd react worse if someone invaded my bubble.
Duckie

[Shakespeare]

55. You've got it backwards. Aiken is the one who was rude, and Ripa showed WAY more restraint than....

...I would have.

[karmaqueen]

56. She was VERY rude!!!

She shoved a picture of a kitten in his face knowing that he has a real fear of cats. He accidentally ran over his kitten when he first started to drive and held it while it died. This has haunted him and has a hard time being reminded of it, that was not necessary, it was RUDE. She dressed up as Clay for Halloween and was kissing every guy around, I'd say that was RUDE. He apologized on the show and after the show. She had to go on her show the day after and rant for 15 minutes about him. She is obsessed with his sexuality, she is a RUDE diva.

[Shakespeare]

58. Wow. You know WAY too much about Clay Aiken. And no, she wasn't rude.

Uh, okay....cat trauma, whatever. She was incredibly restrained after he clamped his hand over her face. Had that been me, he'd have been in need of a new arm. And had it been me, he'd have been GONE after the next commercial break. I don't care if it was George freakin' Clooney, you don't do that to someone.

It was inappropriate on TWO levels, incidentally. Just the touching itself was out of line, but also attempting to physically restrain someone and shut them up (especially on their own show) is unbelievably inappropriate.

[Left Is Write]

60. Although I didn't see the show (either that one or the next day)...

I have a hard time believing Kelly ranted about him for 15 minutes. That's more than 25% of the entire show time.

(As a side giggle, I keep reading your last two words as "inbelievably unappropriate.")

[karmaqueen]

65. Clay can't have friends?

Yes I know quite a bit about Clay and he is a great person. I must admit that I never liked Kelly so I guess I am a bit over sensitive. I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one. I still think if she had a problem she should have told him and not had a rant on the show when he was not there to defend himself.

[NYCGirl]

78. You're right. I saw it, and he was unbelievably nasty during the "host chat",

making catty comments about her.

[Bluebear]

83. He's gay! Look at the lipstick! --- you DIDN'T say that did you?????

Yep you did.

[Sapphocrat]

85. Wow, revelation!

I'm a lesbian, and I DON'T wear lipstick!

Tell me, O Wise One, does that make me a gay man? Or a straight woman?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

86. I work in theatre. Straight men wear makeup all the time for photos/stage. Trust me.

If you think he's gay, because you think he's wearing lipstick in a photo, then wow...you're dumb.

Men wearing makeup goes with the job.

[cboy4]

87. You really know nothing about television make-up, do you?

Do you even know why men wear make-up on TV and in photographs?

Because the lighting washes you out, making you appear pale as a ghost.

Some of the straightest TV News anchors I know are in make-up before the 5 o'clock news.

Stop stereotyping.

[Jamastiene]

95. Uhm, by that gauge, all male actors are gay.

What utter nonsense. Fuck, that is absolutely ridiculous.

[Vorta]

100. He looks like Ron Howard after several hours with Joan Rivers' surgeon.

[Tellurian]

6. I saw the whole thing..

Aiken is an ass. He has trouble relating to women.

It's Kelly's show and she can run it any way she wants.
Aiken was getting perturbed because he felt he couldn't
get a word in edgewise to interview the guest.

If anyone is complaining it's Aiken, not Kelly.

[Maddy McCall]

61. I don't care who the man is. If he put his hand over my mouth...

he'd have a nutful of knee.

I don't do the personal space invasion thing very well.

[Darth_Kitten]

63. She should have spoken to him in private......

she doesn't sound very professional.

[Bluebear]

84. 'Aiken is an ass. He has trouble relating to women.'

Based on this incident?

[Scairp]

7. Latest Breaking News?!

I think NOT.

[Tellurian]

8. To the Lounge with ya!

hey, whos that trying to cover my print?

[TlalocW]

10. Wasn't Clay's 15 minutes up 2 or 3 years ago?

He's not an exceptional singer; he's annoying, and he thinks he's better than what he is. He came in second on an annoying singing contest show. Why isn't he selling cars?

TlalocW

[Vorta]

101. I thought he'd retire and have Ruben Stoddard's love child.

[Vinca]

11. Personally, I wish he'd put his hands around her throat.

If I see that Tide commercial one more time . . .

[underpants]

14. lol

I can't say that I know the commercial you are talking about but I did have the misfortune of having to sit through her TV show that comes on Friday night-I can't say that it was bad simply because it failed to actually register on the scale. It was simply there. There seemed to be no reasonable explanation for it.

[MemphisTiger]

12. He had to shut her up at all costs

She doesn't shut up, but neither does Regis so I hate the show anyway.

I've seen Jay Mohr and Pat Sajack guest host in place of Regis and they were great. They are the only ones that could work the timing to get a word in with Kelly. Regis needs to go.

[Debi]

13. I wouldn't call it homophobic - I'd call it germophobic

I wouldn't want someone who just shook hands and high fived a whole crowd of people to place their hand over my mouth either. Then again - I wouldn't want anyone thinking it was okay to put their hand over my mouth...HOW RUDE :wow:

[Phillycat]

26. I agree with everything you said. nt

[YellowRubberDuckie]

39. EXACTLY.

[SoyCat]

45. I totally agree. Ick.

[Parche]

15. She was aiken to get back

Clay..Doh

[mike_c]

17. WTF- why is anything that "celebrities" do "news" in America...?

Jeebus H. Christ on a pogo stick!

[Lex]

90. Please, other countries obsess about "celebrities" and call it "news"

not that this is good form, however.

But it's not just a phenomenon in America.

[soleft]

18. She's got a bazillion kids, probably says that 10 times again

Assuming of course she has time to see her kids

[Left Is Write]

62. She has three, and why would you assume she wouldn't have time

to see them?

[lakercub]

20. personal space

I'm with her on this one. There is nothing homophobic or elitist about it. I don't want anyone touching me without permission, especially anywhere on the head. I don't care if its a celebrity or a friend or a total stranger. Don't touch me without permission. My body, my rights. Some people do not believe in personal space...I do.

[qanda]

57. I totally agree

I watched the beginning of the program, but Clay was so awful that I had to turn it off. It's clear that he was out of his element (not sure what his element is). To say that Kelly is elitist or a jerk is just ridiculous. Clay should have kept his hands to himself.

BTW, I believe Kelly is also a Democrat, I think I remember her father was running for some office as a Democrat.

[fleabert]

21. I watched it- she overreacted.

He couldn't get a word in edgewise, made a joke to that effect, she kept talking. so he playfully put his hand on her mouth and she acted the bitch.

I am no Clay fan (music), but give the guy a break. I thought the comment was a reference to his (assumed) sexuality as well.

[Virginia Dare]

22. He should take a lesson from our esteemed President...

next time grab her neck!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/07/19/MNG3HK1MDI1.DTL

[karmaqueen]

23. Clay Aiken is a Great person.

He has done more for children in his short career than Kelly diva Ripa has done in her life. He is a Democrat and works with Senator Harken on issue. He has a foundation for autistic children, is an ambassador for unicef and is just good person. kelly Ripa is a nasty, loudmouth, diva. I have known him for years and he is so much better than her it is unbelievable. She cannot shut her mouth, someone needs to shut it for her. All I can say is Thank you Rosie for stating the obvious. Kelly has ridiculed him before about her belief that he is gay by dressing like him & kissing a guy, she makes me ill.

[earth mom]

25. With you on that one.

Kelly has become a diva-and not a nice one! :puke:

[Bluzmann57]

24. And this is news how?

Someone please explain it to me, I don't know. Thanks.

[graywarrior]

27. Geeze. Shoot the lot of em.

Total wastes.

[petronius]

40. lol!

Pretty efficient solution - but then what would the TV news have to report on?

[KamaAina]

29. Nothing like that happened to me when I introduced him

we had him as the keynote speaker at a conference last year. Remember, he was studying to be a special ed teacher when he got "discovered". And guess who got to introduce him to a packed ballroom of about 1,000?

Then again, he was backstage while I was speaking, and I got off stage before he reached the podium. Apparently I was just in the nick of time! :P

[Hugin]

31. Ha! This started in LBN?!?!?!

*tsk*

[Darth_Kitten]

32. Awh, these two kiddies are just sweet on each other.......

yet they can't admit it.

[azmouse]

33. I don't see Kelly Ripa's remark as homophobic at all.

It's a common remark that I've heard used by everyone as a joke. That hand could just as easily been near the naughty bits of the opposite sex.

I don't want someone's hand over my mouth either. It has nothing to do with homophobia.

[cwydro]

50. Totally agree,

and so, since he says he's not gay...does this mean that Rosie outed him?

[cwydro]

42. I wouldn't want ANYONE doing that

unless I knew them very well....how can it be homophobic if he's NOT gay?

[Rabrrrrrr]

43. Thinking he's relevant or smart or talented enough was inappropriate.

Touching Kelly was just icing on the cake of inappropriateness.

[matcom]

46. i'd like to touch her

with a paintball

[Rabrrrrrr]

47. I'd like to touch her with my hands.

I'd give up Natalie Portman for Kelly. ROWR!

[AngryOldDem]

44. Apparently he had shaken hands with the audience prior...

...and that's what Ripa was bitching about, since it is cold and flu season, after all.

She's annoying, he's annoying, O'Donnell is annoying, "Live" is annoying, "The View" is annoying.

Can we move on now?

[springhill]

91. I don't get why you are even reading this post............

if you find it so irrelevant and offending. This is the lounge isn't it? I thought these kind of subjects could be talked about without being ridiculed; but one thing I have found on this board more than any other (general, breaking,etc) is that the level of attacks on people just because they're celebrities is rampant. Very judgemental and just downright nasty and petty.

[ncliberal]

49. I just love hypocrites.

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[Left Is Write]

51. Is it possible...

those things with Regis were pre-arranged while the thing with Clay Aiken was not?

[Alenne]

52. That's not even the same thing

Kelly and Clay Aiken obviously don't have that type of relationship. Someone you barely know doing that to you and your good friend doing it is totally different.

[ncliberal]

64. She overreacted.

I agree that he probably should not have done it even though it seemed to me like a joke. They had been snarking on each other the whole show. He apologized. What else is he supposed to do... kiss her butt? She should have said something in private. You don't go on national television and trash a guest host that was just on your show. She was unprofessional and rude as well.

Plus, don't spout off about not wanting people to touch your face when you have done the exact same thing. Regis doesn't exactly look thrilled in the photo I posted. Of course, I've never liked Kelly Ripa so I admit I'm biased. I think she's an obnoxious twit that never lets anyone get a word in. I think she's a coward for ranting about someone that is not there to defend himself. She should have been woman enough to say something that day. That should have been the end of the so-called drama.

[Alenne]

69. Her reaction was very restrained

I think she handled herself very well under the circumstances. She made a silly comment and they carried on with the show.

It was inappropriate on his part and shows a little bit of immaturity as well.

You don't have to like her to see that he was out of line.

It doesn't matter if she has done that to Regis everyday for 4 years. She didn't like it when he did it and that is all that matters. You just don't do that to someone you are not good friends with.

[ncliberal]

70. I agree that it was out of line but...

I agree, but what is he supposed to do now? He can't undo it and she's not the freaking Queen of England. Everyone makes mistakes. He shouldn't have to kiss her ass. She was still rude and unprofessional to talk about it on national television. She should have told him privately that she didn't appreciate what he did. Plus, I don't take anyone seriously that says they are good friends with Howard Stern of all people. Talk about inappropriate.

[Alenne]

71. She probably was upset about it

We don't know how that made her feel. I'm sure the more she thought about it the madder she got and she vented on her talk show. She didn't say anything mean about him the next day.

She didn't call for him to do anything. She just gave her opinion. The only people really upset about it are Clay fans.

[idgiehkt]

67. thanks for that.

I can't stand this woman. I've loathed her for years, possibly a decade because she's been on my favorite soap for as long as I can remember. She is full of herself...there is just something really arrogant about her even though she hides it well under all the bleach. It's just a strange quirk of her personality, and I think it's very grating.

[LiberalHeart]

79. Thanks for posting that ... I thought I remembered her covering Regis's face

I saw the clip with Clay and didn't get why she reacted as she did. Suppose he had the gunga on his hand. It was over and done with, and there was no benefit in making a big deal out of it at that point -- on national TV. Geez. All she could do was embarrass him by doing that, and it was pointlessly mean.

I didn't see the big deal with the hand thing, but maybe I'm just not as sensitive as many here are. I saw it as a playful gesture, done goodnaturedly, and Kelly acted like he had the plague. Very rude.

She should get over herself.

[karmaqueen]

82. Great pictures!

Saw this posted on an abc site, funny!

Do not...do you hear me...?.....DO NOT fark with the Claymates! If only Osama bin Laden insulted Clay....they'd ferret out that little coward faster than Clay can shoot down the sexuality question.

Love that picture. I truly also don't believe she would have had such a strong reaction if Mario had placed his hand over her mouth. What I do object to was her biotching about it on Monday.

[Lisa0825]

97. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[undeterred]

53. She's kind of full of herself.

I don't think Aiken is gay, and he has a very nice voice.

[begin_within]

68. He was only doing what millions of people have been hoping SOMEONE would do.

[Left Is Write]

73. If those millions of people can't stand Kelly Ripa or listening to her...

why don't they turn off their televisions?

[begin_within]

75. To be honest, I enjoy the repartee between Regis and Kelly - they are much better together than

either one is alone.

[Left Is Write]

77. I do too...

but I don't understand why the Kelly-haters would be tuning in at all.

I don't watch TV shows hosted by people I can't stand the sight or sound of. :)

[LiberalHeart]

80. The video has been playing all over national tv

[Left Is Write]

81. And?

[Lex]

89. Yes, I don't understand why she wouldn't STFU for one second

and let the fellow ask one question of the interviewees. Clearly he had waited and waited for her to politely shut up and allow him to ask a few questions.

Granted, he probably shouldn't have touched her mouth, but why was she hogging the interview? That's not so polite either.

:shrug:

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

88. So Kelly starts out by being an idiot.....

...and Rosie ups the ante.

I'm glad I'm not missing anything on these shitty morning shows.

[caty]

92. If someone put their hand on my

mouth and nose I would wonder: Did he wash his hands after using the bathroom? Did he touch the door handle when he left the bathroom? Did he shake hands with someone who was ill or had not washed their hands recently? Did he cough or sneeze into that hand?

It's RUDE to put your hands on someone's mouth--plain and simple.

It does not make the person who did it gay. It does not make you homophobic. It makes the person who did this an idiot. It makes the person it was done to a victim.

[noonwitch]

93. He invaded her personal space, I'd be pissed off at him, too.

Everyone wants to jump to the conclusion that Kelly is homophobic. I don't like people getting in my space, either, and it has nothing to do with the race or sexual preference of the person, either.

[Name removed]

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