In a new interview with People to discuss his newly released holiday album Christmas Bells Are Ringing, the American Idol alum claimed he lost “50 percent” of his fanbase after publicly sharing that he was gay in a 2008 cover story for the outlet.
Clay Aiken says coming out in 2008 cost him ‘50 percent’ of his fans ‘Back then it was a big deal,’ he recalled.
At the time, Aiken was starring in Spamalot on Broadway, and the revelation had an immediate impact on ticket sales.
It went from selling very well to the week after the cover came out, the ticket sales dropped.
“You can actually look at the ticket sales the week after that cover came out.
