Clay Aiken is recounting what he describes as "the most catastrophic week of my life" stemming from a 2006 television appearance with Kelly Ripa. The "American Idol" alum appeared on the "Hollywood Raw" podcast to discuss his guest-hosting stint on "Live With Regis and Kelly" on November 17, 2006.

During an interview with "Dancing With the Stars" winners Cheryl Burke and Emmitt Smith, Aiken placed his hand over Ripa's mouth, joking that he wasn't getting a chance to speak. Ripa's reaction was immediate, stating, "Oh, that's a no, no, no. I don't know where that hand's been, honey."

Aiken explained on the podcast that he was filling in for Regis Philbin as he was in discussions with the show's production company, Buena Vista Television, about potentially hosting his own show. "I'm on the show because I wanted to show them I could handle this myself, I could host something, and I wasn't getting to talk," he said. "There were cue cards that had my name on them, so I tried to be funny, so I did what I did, which was incredibly innocent."

He recalled sensing Ripa's displeasure, noting, "Then it got a little cold in the room." Aiken expressed concern that he had upset her and tried not to dwell on it. However, Ripa publicly criticized his actions on the November 20, 2006, episode of "Live With Regis and Kelly," telling Philbin, "He's a Southern boy, so I expected a certain amount of Southern hospitality and manners. If you're in the public eye, you have to be respectful of other people. And I don't think that he was respectful in any way. You don't put your hands over someone's face and mouth when they're conducting an interview, even if it's for a laugh."

The situation escalated when Rosie O'Donnell, then a co-host on "The View," called Ripa's remarks "homophobic." Ripa responded on air, reiterating her view that Aiken's gesture was "unprofessional" and asserting, "To imply that it's anything homophobic is outrageous, Rosie, and you know better."

Aiken stated that O'Donnell and Ripa's subsequent exchange exacerbated the situation, particularly because he had not yet publicly disclosed his sexual orientation. "I was out to people that I knew, but I wasn't publicly out about it," he recalled. "I was not out to my grandparents and people in my family... I was caving in on myself, and so it was lot."

Aiken, who publicly came out in 2008, said he began to reclaim ownership of the moment by joking about it during a joint appearance with Tori Spelling at the 2006 American Music Awards. He later sent Ripa flowers, and she subsequently called him to apologize, according to Aiken.

Regarding their current relationship, Aiken quipped that they have "been in a few places at the same time, like show openings and whatnot." He added, "I have not gone up and said something myself. But she hasn't, either."

A source close to Ripa told Entertainment Weekly that "this all happened 20 years ago, so it is rather silly to be a story now."