Were People Afraid To Have A Gay American Idol Winner?

by on May 20, 2009 | 34 Comments

With all of the fuss surrounding the season finale of “American Idol”, it seemed that Adam Lambert was a total shoe-in for the crown.


He had/has fans left and right, people were cheering for him in droves. They just KNEW he was going to win it all tonight. He even had Katy Perry showing her bias for him on the show, by wearing her faux Elvis outfit with his name emblazoned on the back.

After it’s all said and done, Kris Allen is the winner of the show. But why? Was it that he had the better talent? Was it that he did THE BEST job of the entire series?

Even Simon Cowell commented recently that the Idol finale should consist of Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert primarily because Kris couldn’t compete with the likes of Adam.

Anyone I’ve talked to said that Adam was in a class all of his own. He was the winner, in everybody’s minds before the finale even aired. My question is, was Adam not chosen because he’s gay? I only ask that because I really can’t think of another reason why he would’ve been passed over for the crown. It surely wasn’t because he’s not good enough. To say that people are in shock over the results of the show would be an understatement.

What do you think?

On a side note, I think both of the guys did an excellent job on the show. This is basically just for discussion as to your opinions on what happened on tonight’s show.

Image Credit: Bauer-Griffin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Related posts:

For the first word in gossip, friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. You'll be glad you did!




Tags: • • • • •

  • http://earsucker.com/2009/were-people-afraid-to-have-a-gay-american-idol-winner/ melodrama

    I liked a few songs that Adam sang but he was just too screaming, wailing, theatrical over-the-top for me! It would grate on my nerves to have to listen to that in the car. He’ll get a contract anyway, so his fans have no need to gripe.

  • PhDude

    KRIS ALLEN WON BECAUSE OF THE K K K KRISTIAN HATE VOTE. ADAM WAS AMAZING ALL SEASON LONG BUT IT GOES TO SHOW THAT WHAT KRISTIANS DO BEST IS HATE

  • sassy

    The only reason Adam lost is b/c he is gay… it’s a sad comentary on America. They are ready for a black, or should I say 1/2 black president… but not a gay American Idol. I don’t know if I want to cry or vomit….. I’m glad I’m Cdn at moments like this!

  • Jeff Shackelford

    America voted and Kris won. If the majority of the voters don’t want a gay winner, then they are not going to vote for one. I liked Adam’s showmanship, however, if you will remember last year, everyone thought David Archuleta was a “shoo-in” also. Don’t count the chickens before they hatch.

  • T

    Why is it so hard to believe that the type of music Kris sings appeals to more people? Last time i check glam rock died in the 80s. Don’t get wrong Adam is great…. and will be great on Broadway. But he’s not a mainstream singer. We’ll see though when the cds come up and time will tell which one really was better for this business.

    • Lisa

      adam will out beat kris, kris is a lil boring and ita hard to sing to his music becuz he dotn get louad adam its notes that ppl only dream

  • reina

    Chris won because he deserved to win the votes prove that never mind the b.s. he has the talent .Adam did also but more for theather roles not for idol

    • Lisa

      adam is way better every1 knows it american idol is rigged thats a fact

  • whateve!

    Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe he won because people really like him over Adam Lambert!! I have NOTHING against gays… actually love many of them, but I voted for Kris! and it was because Adam seems a little to cocky for my liking! why does everything have to be turned into something about race, gender, or sexual preference? Kris and Danny were very much alike in their musical styles… most of Danny’s fans, voted for Kris.
    IGNORANCE!!!

  • Ryan

    Everyone knows Adam is much better than Kris, there is a lot of reasons for him not “to win”. Being gay has a lot to do, he lost a lot of fans when those pictures came out in the Internet. Another reason is because of his look, let’s face it a lot of people base their vote in how good they look (likable) specially girls. If pleople could only vote one time per phone Kris would have gone home a long time ago! Kris should thank those little girls that voted for him a thousand times per night

  • cathi

    I am a Christian and frankly I loved ADAM…very surprised..and a bit disappointed..
    (altho yes kris is a good guy) but Adam…most talented yet…
    so sorry it has to be christian vs not..
    hope that is not the case

  • rick

    really? because he’s gay? sorry, I just don’t see it. Aiken is gay, people figured it out before the first season was over – he won. It’s simple demographics. the people who would have voted for danny -based on style, not faith – would more naturally vote for kris over adam. I loved ‘em both, in fact, their harmony rocked in their duet, but put the gay card back and just do the demographic math

    • Lisa

      thats not true i liked danny and adam i voted for adam after danny left i voted both of them kris is an ok singer but adam is way better than kris, kris plays it safe adam reaches for the stars

  • http://earsucker.com/ Roberta

    Clay Aiken was the runner up to Ruben Studdard, not the other way around. It’s not ignorance. It’s merely a question that I wanted to pose for comments.

  • rick

    thanks Roberta, I stand corrected. My comment is not against yours but as a response to PhDude and sassy. sorry for any confusion. worthy question to ask, demands worthy answers.

  • http://earsucker.com/ Roberta

    Thanks Rick, I appreciate that :) I’m glad that people aren’t thinking that I’m taking sides here. I just wanted to be sure that America got it right. With so many people out there in shock and disbelief as to the outcome, it made me question what was going on.

  • Char

    Kris the winner_what a joke! Adam was the best singer in that competition by a freakin mile! The vote didn’t prove Kris was the best singer it proved america is homophobic.

  • Fana

    I don’t think Kris’s win has anything to do with homophobia. I think both him and Adam were talented musicians in their own way but that Kris’s style fits in better with the type of music that is popular at the moment.

    I didn’t vote but if I had, the fact that Adam is gay wouldn’t have crossed my mind at all while making my decision and I still would have voted for Kris.

    Did it occur to anyone that, while Adam fans may have been more vocal about their support, there were simply MORE people who wanted Kris to win, therefore MORE people voted for Kris. Huh, what a thought.

  • TGD

    I’m beginning to think it’s the people who RUN American Idol that fear a gay winner! Leaving aside the question of whether Adam Lambert actually IS gay, he certainly appears to have that inclination, and the New York Times ran a devastating piece about just how conservative American Idol really is. My wife and I are big fans of Adam and the show (or we used to be), so we would really like to hear a breakdown of the actual voting in the finale. Last week, I voted pretty much continuously for TWO hours using two cell phones to two different numbers for Adam. I got well over 100 connections to his lines and the vote total was later announced as something like 85 million votes. This week, I again voted for Adam on two different cell phones to two of his lines, but THIS time it was for a total of FOUR solid hours, and I only got through maybe ten or twelve times. All of the other calls came up busy, apparently indicating a huge voter response for Adam, yet the TOTAL number of votes was less than 100 million, or less than a 24% increase in total votes over last week despite a 100% increase in the voting period. My wife and I are not major conspiracy theorists, but it’s pretty strange that I was able to officially vote for Adam so few times despite the extended time for voting. Is it possible that his lines were intermittently blocked by American Idol, figuring that he would become a superstar anyway, so why not cash in on a Kris “Average” Allen win? I don’t recognize the name of the accounting firm that did the tally, but it sure ain’t Ernst & Young!

  • Brian

    I am gay and from San Diego but I figured that Kris would win because, after after all the show is American IDOL. No question Adam has the best vocal talent by far but come on, he does not represent the all American boy, not even to gays! Most gays don’t paint their nails black, wear excessive eye makeup, weird hair, etc. Then there is his choice of songs. It seems that he was always screaming loud music from the past. For the American audience that watches and calls in, that type of music is over, and I am glad it is. Look at what draws the teeny bopper crowd that votes–Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers. Now, whose’s singing style is closest to them, Kris’s or Adam’s??? This is not a gay issue, it is about knowing what young, middle America young people like and delivering it. Adam was selfish and chose music that HE liked, and he deserves what he got.

  • tommy

    I think it’s better he didn’t get first place… time has shown for the most part the ‘runner-up’s tend to have more success and freedom with their careers…

    Can’t wait for a CD Adam!

  • Lonnie

    Adam Lambert was consistently better than all the other singers, including Kris Allen, throughout the season. I simply don’t believe Kris won fairly. Kris himself admitted that he believed Adam should have won. Fact is, TV producers don’t want a gay American Idol and the bigots do have a bit of sway in this country.

  • Independent

    Americans love mediocrity. Kris was good but not great by any measure.

    Adam is a shining star. He will definitely go far….I’m sure he has MANY recording giants knocking on his door.

    Adam, we’re looking forward to buying your music. History proves that the person who wins the idol title is often surpassed by better performers who were on the show. You will be in this category for sure. Best wishes.

  • TrueBlue

    America made a “safe” choice because it doesn’t seem to like anyone who’s outside of the mainstream, even if he’s obviously more talented than his opponent. Adam injected so much excitement and showmanship into this season of American Idol. He delivered consistently awesome performances and deserved to win based on talent. Kris, in my opinion, was just another Average Joe. Seriously, how often do you come across a unique talent like Adam with such a broad vocal range and high entertainment value? And how many other guys already on the radio now sound like Kris, only better? Too many. I think that a different outcome may have occurred if the voting format was set up differently (e.g., one vote per phone number or if the judges’ opinions were factored in with viewer votes like they are in Dancing with the Stars). After all, more votes doesn’t necessarily translate into more CD sales. In the long run, I’m confident that Adam will be more successful than Kris. Judging by his initial reaction when he was declared the victor, I think that Kris knows in his heart that Adam was the rightful winner, so this taints his so-called victory.

  • Field

    I voted for Kris primarily because I have a distant connection with him. I will freely admit that I thought Adam has more talent, star power, and chances of making multiple hits for the masses.

    What upsets me is how wrong people think it is to vote against someone because they are a homosexual (or bisexual, or whatever else it may be). Why is it wrong for me or others to not want to glorify the homosexual lifestyle (and therefore not vote for Adam on American Idol) when it is a lifestyle that has obvious damaging physical consequences (and I would argue even more damaging emotional consequences)?

    I don’t hate Adam because he’s gay. I hope all good things for Adam, and I sincerely don’t believe all good things will come to him if he is practicing homosexuality.

    For those reasons, I am not ashamed to say I would not have voted for Adam simply because he is a homosexual.

  • Lonnie

    You can paint your bigotry in pretty words, but you’re still nothing more than a bigot, Field. Just look at your own words, bigot. If I were to say “I don’t want to vote for black person X because I don’t want to support black people or I won’t vote for a woman because women don’t deserve support” I would rightfully and correctly be called a racist and a sexist. Homophobia is bigotry, discrimination, and oppression if you want to be a bigot, that’s your lifestyle choice, just don’t push your views on the rest of the world. Adam was a talented singer, much better than Kris, and the bigots like yourself decided that was irrelevant and that his perceived sexual orientation was more important. That’s bigotry and I’m sorry you’re too ignorant or drunk on particular Bible verses. No tolerance for people who refuse to see others as human beings. No tolerance for intolerance.

  • Lonnie

    Attention bigots: stop the lies about lgbt people. Why do you lie and say that any positive mention of lgbt people is “glorification?” Stop regurgitating what your ignorant pastors or right wing radio hosts are telling you and think for yourself. Are straight people “glorifiying the heterosexual lifestyle” when they wear wedding rings or do ANYTHING together in public? No, that’s stupid. So, is the bigoted comment that there is any such thing as “glorification” of homosexuality.

  • ayuni

    not everyone likes adam’s theatherical performances with all the screaming and such. my mom and sis are definitely one of them. they didn’t deny his outstanding talent but they just find kris more appealing.

    personally, im also a fan of kris but i sincerely wanted adam to win because he was undoubtly talented and more iconic and also because i hate the single no boundaries. eek

    oh well. the people has voted

  • Lonnie

    The homophobic bigots are missing the point. You can vote for or against a singer because you don’t like their singing or style. When you vote against someone because of their race, sex, sexual orientation, or any other identity category, you’re simply wrong. That’s not, what Simon says over and over again, what the competition is about.

  • HunniB416

    I love the fact that because someone expresses an opinion in an article, that author is suddenly the know-all on that subject and everyone who reads it suddenly shares that same opinion, rather like a herd of sheep. You all even took it to another extreme and chose to hatefully scapegoat a religious group(Christians who really are not bad people. You don’t even know the people you blame…tsk, tsk) for a contestant not winning a silly TV show competition instead of thinking about the situation logically and without hatred. Example:

    Scenario 1: Allison got eliminated, so naturally her votes would go to the contestant that sounds the most like her in her absence (Adam)

    Scenario 2: Danny gets eliminated, so naturally his votes went to the contestant that sounded the most like him in his absence (Kris)

    I agree, Kris is pretty forgettable, and it is probable that an overwhelming number of 13-year-olds repeatedly voted for him, but all that aside, ultimately this is a singing competition: one that,if you remember correctly, does not forecast the actual career path of the contestants. Even though Adam was not my favorite, I still know he will do very well.

    And as for America supposedly not wanting a gay “Idol”, if you fell like there’s hatred to be dealt with in the gay community, don’t fight it with more hatred. It doesn’t work.

  • patricia Kleckner

    I thought adam was the better performer……being said that……they will both do good….

  • Cookie

    I agree America does like mediocrity. Just listen to what is on the radio. Kris seems very nice,but he is a mediocre singer. With the type of voice Adam has, yes he is good for theatre, but with a voice that controlled and such a great range-come on he can sing anything.

  • sporeGLAMBERT

    if ADAM were here he would have won. we vote for talent and we like ADAM style. today radio play kris song and already receive several callers complaining its boring.
    I am actually happy adam lost in your country so that he can choose to fly. please fly to asia ADAM ! we want ADAM lambert concert.

  • http://www.google.com/ Kosha

    Alright people. Everyone knows that Adam should have won. He OBVIOUSLY has the most talent and can put on a show better than anyone else in Idol history. He has it all. And if you all watched The Today Show, you would have noticed that Adam was WAY MORE fans than Kris ever thought of having. And on top of that, Adam has way more talent. People love Adam, world wide. Sorry Kris fans, but Adam just has it all. He’ll be bigger, better, and more successful than Kris ever thought of being.