Did Adam Lambert's Record Label Try to Hide His Sexuality?

By PopEater Staff Posted Nov 18th 2009 02:36PM

Adam Lambert has never made much of a secret of his sexuality. Even before officially coming out, the 'American Idol' runner-up refused to shy away from public speculation that he might be gay. Finally, in a "who didn't see this coming" interview with Rolling Stone, Lambert stated: "I don't think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear that I'm gay."

But MSNBC reports that Lambert's own record label tried to underplay his homosexuality in advance of the upcoming release 'For Your Entertainment.' In Out magazine's latest issue, Editor-in-Chief Aaron Hicklin tells Lambert that, while he took second place in the latest season of 'American Idol,' he is "the real winner for those of us who saw your success as a test of America's growing tolerance.

"It's unfortunate, therefore, that your record label and management don't share the same view," he adds. But with Lambert's popularity stable in the aftermath of his big reveal... why not?

Lambert's sexuality was all but certain before his Rolling Stone interview. After pictures of him kissing another man had surfaced and most assumed he was gay, the singer told PEOPLE, "It's a really, really cool thing to be able to show people that you can be yourself, and you should be proud of yourself ... and never make apologies for it."

"Embracing who you are and what makes you different is actually what's really cool," he said in May.

Lambert's label, 19 Entertainment, might have missed the memo. According to Hicklin, the label turned down numerous requests to feature Lambert on the Out cover because they feared it would impact record sales. This issue shows Lambert sharing the cover with Wanda Sykes, Cyndi Lauper, Lt. Dan Choi and Rob Marshall as part of the Out 100 Class of 2009. Hicklin says the label signed off "because this cover is a group shot that includes a straight woman."

Hicklin adds, "Albeit with the caveat that we must avoid making you look 'too gay.' "

"The irony is that right now it would be easier to get Kris Allen to do a solo cover shoot for us," Hicklin writes. "But only because he's straight."

The allegations are puzzling in light of Lambert's album cover, which one must assume is label-sanctioned. The singer appears in heavy makeup and blue hair, playing up his glam, flamboyant reputation. It appears to take a calculated risk of offending gay-wary consumers - unlikely to be Lambert's target demo.

Fans' support of Lambert also makes attempts to suppress his sexuality something of a moot point. After the revealing Rolling Stone interview, PopEater asked readers if Lambert's news was shocking. In a June poll, nearly 186,000 readers expressed no surprise that Lambert had come out. Only 3% of the PopEater audience didn't expect to hear that Lambert is gay.

Likewise, 142,000 or 90% of readers confirmed they would have voted the same way in the 'American Idol' competition if they'd already known for sure. And Lambert himself sees no reason to hide, as he told Rolling Stone. "I'm proud of my sexuality. I embrace it. It's just another part of me," he says.

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