Clay Aiken is recounting the fallout from a 2006 on-air incident with Kelly Ripa, describing it as the "most catastrophic" week of his life. The controversy began when Aiken, co-hosting "Live with Regis and Kelly" at the time, playfully placed his hand over Ripa's mouth during a segment. Aiken stated in a recent interview that he has not spoken to Ripa in the two decades since the event.
"No one would remember but me because I was the one with the scars," Aiken said on the "Hollywood Raw" podcast, reflecting on the incident. He explained that he had hoped his appearance on the show would demonstrate his potential as a solo host, but felt he was not getting enough opportunities to speak. "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 Ripa's immediate reaction, where she responded, "Oh, that’s a no, no, no. Don’t know where that hand’s been, honey." Following the exchange, Ripa described Aiken as "hostile" and lacking respect, stating, "You don’t put your hands over somebody’s face and mouth when they’re conducting an interview, even if it’s for a laugh."
The feud escalated when Rosie O'Donnell, then a co-host on "The View," criticized Ripa's response, labeling it "homophobic." At the time, Aiken had not publicly disclosed his sexual orientation. Ripa called into "The View" to defend herself, leading to a discussion about Aiken's sexuality. Aiken, who was not publicly out at the time, noted that Ripa's participation in the debate effectively outed him.
In response to the backlash, Aiken's team reportedly compiled clips showing instances where Ripa had similarly placed her hand over his mouth. Aiken also mentioned sending Ripa flowers to apologize and claimed that he had tried to return to the show at Ripa's invitation, but these efforts were unsuccessful. He indicated that he doesn't recall the exact moment their interaction ceased but noted it occurred after Regis Philbin's return to the program.