It’s been 14 years since Adam Lambert took part in the program that completely changed the course of his career. Today, he has been nominated for the prestigious Grammy Award or GLAAD Media Awards in the category of Outstanding Music Artist, five studio albums and an international tour with Queen. However, the beginnings were not the easiest. All because the singer tried unsuccessfully to hide his orientation in the popular talent show.
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He opened up to his family, kept silent in front of the cameras
Lambert was one of the most charismatic participants of the 8th edition of American Idol and, despite his undeniable vocal talent, aroused controversy due to, among others, sexual orientation. He admitted to his family that he was gay eight years before deciding to take part in the TV show, but he intended to keep quiet about it in front of the cameras. Those were different times.
When I applied for the audition, I was like, “I don’t think I’ll be accepted. I’m gay. It’s a pipe dream.”
– quoted him from Rolling Stone, the magazine in which he publicly admitted that he was homosexual for the first time. Although he did not want to be judged by his preferences and was not asked about them in interviews, two months before the broadcast of the grand finale, photos of him with his partner were published in the public space, allegedly confirming rumors about his orientation, which had previously been fueled by his costumes and make-up.
It’s never been a secret. During the live stream, no one asked me what my sexual preferences were. Back then, we weren’t allowed to give interviews during the recording period of the show because they wanted everyone to have an equal opportunity.
Lambert recalled. Despite breaking this decision and revealing ambiguous photos, the singer did not deny his identity. Although he did not win the show, he took second place, and the selection of repertoire from “American Idol” later guaranteed him cooperation with Queen. It was his daring performance of the already iconic “Bohemian Rhapsody” that delighted the jurors at the casting, and in the final he performed alongside Brian May and Roger Taylor, singing “We Are The Champions”. Since 2011, he has replaced Freddie Mercury in the Queen + Adam Lambert project.
The show that confirmed it all
Lambert’s 2009 performance at the American Music Awards, following the release of his debut solo album “For Your Entertainment” following his participation in “Idol”, also aroused controversy due to his open approach to sexual orientation.
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I gave a performance that I saw myself when I was still a teenager. I was a bit sexy and had dancers on stage, did some suggestive moves with some dancers and improvised a kiss with my bass player. I felt it. Well, I got off the stage and got into trouble. They banned me for a while, netizens asked: “How dare you?”. They threatened me with a lawsuit.
the singer recalled. “I was in a bubble in Los Angeles, among artists, freaks, and I didn’t realize that something like this could move people so much,” he added.
He uses his experience to support fans in a similar situation
Today, stressful situations from the period of participation in the program translated into his commitment to helping people with similar experiences. He used them to advocate for the LGBT+ community, promote acceptance, and encourage therapy and other forms of support, which he himself used to deal with depression and anxiety caused by the pressure of fame.
In the last few years I meet more and more young people who saw me on TV when they were kids and say to me: You helped me come out to my parents that I am gay.
– he said during a speech at the 2023 Creative Coalition Spotlight Initiative Gala. He founded the Feel Something Foundation and often appears in productions aimed at or friendly to gay people, including TV series “Glee” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race”. Since October 2020, she has been dating Oliver Gliese, a Danish dancer.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
