News / Entertainment
Clay Aiken in the Middle of Rosie O’Donnell, Kelly Ripa Feud
A mixed bag of Hollywood stars are at the center of a brewing battle. It all started on Friday when Kelly Ripa and her celebrity co-host for the day Clay Aiken didn’t quit hit it off. Ripa, who co-hosts the “Live with Regis and Kelly” show took exception to Aiken covering her mouth with his hand.
By Monday morning Ripa was still raging over the gesture and complained to Regis and her audience, “I don’t think he was respectful in any way.”
From there it only got weirder; Rosie O’Donnell found it necessary to put her two cents in while hosting “The View” on Tuesday morning. O’Donnell came to the defense of the American Idol runner-up, Aiken, and called Ripa’s comments a “homophobic remark.” O’Donnell continued “If that was a straight man, if that was a cute man, if that was a guy who she didn’t question his sexuality, she would have said a different thing.”
During Rosie’s rant Ripa called in to “The View” and shot down O’Donnell’s comments saying “He reached across and covered my mouth with his hand, I have three kids; he’s shaking hands with everybody in the audience. I mean, it’s cold and flu season; that’s what I meant. And to imply that it’s anything homophobic is outrageous, Rosie, and you know better.”
The man at the center of this battle hasn’t said a thing, nor has he ever found it necessary to discuss his sexuality. No word on how he interpreted Rosie’s “defense.” Aiken actually spoofed the whole incident last night at the American Music Awards. While presenting an award with Tori Spelling the former Beverley Hills 90210 star reached across the podium and placed her hand over Aiken’s mouth.
