Clay Aiken is reflecting on the 20-year-old feud with that he says sparked the “most catastrophic” week of his life.
During a recent appearance on the “Hollywood Raw” podcast, the former “American Idol” star looked back on the 2006 incident that unfolded while he was co-hosting “Live with Regis and Kelly.” The controversy began after Aiken playfully placed his hand over Ripa’s mouth during a live segment.
Aiken revealed that he has not spoken to Ripa since the incident, despite crossing paths with her at several events over the past 20 years.
“Maybe I should feel bad that I have not gone up and said something myself, but she hasnt either. Were talking about something that happened ⦠20 years ago this year, which became this huge blowup,” he said.
“That was the most catastrophic week of my life, to be honest with you ⦠No one would remember but me because I was the one with the scars,” Aiken added.
The musician went on to describe his experience co-hosting alongside Ripa, explaining that he had hoped the appearance would showcase his ability to host on his own.
“Im on the show because I wanted to show them I could handle this myself. I could host something, and I wasnt getting to talk,” he said.
Aiken claimed that although there were cue cards with his name on them, he wasn’t able to say his lines, and that’s when he decided to put his hand over Ripa’s mouth.
“I tried to be funny, and I did what I did, which was incredibly innocent. And then it got a little cold in the room,” he recalled.
He said he immediately realized the after feeling the audience’s reaction.
“Is that a no-no?” Aiken remembered asking Ripa.
“Oh, thats a no, no, no. Dont know where that hands been, honey,” Ripa replied at the time.
Aiken said he doesn’t remember exactly when he and Ripa parted ways but recalled that it happened after Regis Philbin returned to the daytime talk show.
Following the incident, Ripa described Aiken as “hostile.”
“There was a lack of respect, and when youre a certain person, youre in the public eye, you have to be respectful of other people,” she said at the time, according to Page Six.
“And I dont think that he was respectful in any way,” she continued. “If that upsets his fans, Im sorry to hear that, but you dont put your hands over somebodys face and mouth when theyre conducting an interview, even if its for a laugh. And thats all Im gonna say.”
The controversy intensified after Rosie O’Donnell criticized Ripa on “,” calling her response “homophobic.” At the time, Aiken had not publicly come out as gay. Ripa phoned into the show to defend herself, and the discussion shifted to Aiken’s sexuality.
“I have three kids. Hes shaking hands with everybody in the audience. I mean, its season. Thats what I meant. To imply that its anything homophobic is outrageous, Rosie, and you know better. You should be more responsible,” Ripa said.
Looking back, Aiken said only a small circle of people knew he was gay at the time.
“I was not out at the time. I was to Rosie ⦠I was out to people who I knew, but I wasnt publicly out about it,” he said.
Aiken explained that he had not even come out to members of his own family, including his grandparents.
“Not only does Rosie call it a homophobic remark â which I think she accidentally said, and then she tried to walk it back a little bit â but then Kelly calls in live to ‘The View’ that day, and they get in an argument over it.”
“Not only did she out me, but they had a big argument about whether I was gay and who talked about me being gay,” he added.
In response to the backlash, Aiken sai
