Clay Aiken says he didn't come out of the closet as a 24-year-old American Idol finalist in 2003 because he "probably didn't know" he was gay yet.
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"There's a lot of stuff in the industry, in the media industry, there's pressure from different sides. I think you have to learn to love yourself first and then when you do that you're ready."
The American Idol second-season runner-up subsequently confirmed he was gay in a September 2008 People magazine cover story interview.
Aiken made the announcement several weeks after he had a baby boy via artificial insemination with Jaymes Foster, a record producer and close friend of his.
"He's doing well. He's a normal 2-year-old," said Aiken about his son, Parker Foster Aiken. "He's walking, well he's running. He didn't walk maybe a day and then he started running right away."
Aiken was noticeably absent from a farewell tribute to Simon Cowell during American Idol's ninth-season finale last week, and he said he has a hard time even watching the Fox reality competition.
"I haven't watched it in the longest time. When I watched the season after I was on, I got so nervous. My hands started sweating and I get really nervous about the whole thing. So I haven't watched it," said Aiken on The View.
"My life was okay without it. I appreciate it, but it makes me too anxious to watch that show and I get too invested. Then it depresses me that I don't get to do it anymore."
Aiken and American Idol second-season winner Ruben Studdard are currently slated to embark on a 17-city concert tour beginning July 23 in Asheville, NC.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio
