Fridae

The favourite of gay men, Clay Aiken has thoroughly disappointed his gay fans by refusing to entertain a question posed to him by a reporter who asked if he was gay at a press conference after Wednesday's show.

After Aiken told a gushing female reporter that he's looking for a girl who's "not too primped and permed and curled," the reporter from The Advocate, the largest US gay news magazine, posed the runner-up the big question: "A lot of your fan base thinks you're gay. Any comment on that?"

Without a word, the 24-year-old with his trademark fluttering eyelids turned from the reporter and called on another - for the first time during the conference at that. One would have expected a well-prepared response scripted by his PR team to at least say that he appreciates the support from all his fans regardless of their sexuality all the same or something to that effect - saccharine sweet smile optional.

The show's producers have been accused of trying to influence viewers to vote for Studdard, The Washington Post accused acid-tongued judge and executive producer, Simon Cowell for sending "he might be gay" messages to Aiken's fans who are mainly smitten young women by repeatedly commenting that Aiken's performance as being "too Broadway."

Cowell was also noted to have spared Studdard all discussion of his weight while harshly criticising the physiques of other contestants. Cowell has also repeatedly criticised Aiken for not looking like a pop star. "You look at those early clips - I'm not being rude, but you were really ugly and now you're handsome."

Being silent on one's (gay) sexuality seems to be the only way to go for Idol contestants; 19-year-old American Idol 1 finalist Jim Verraros came out after the show was over while British Pop Idol winner Will Young came out only after his album topped the UK charts.

Out of more than 24 million votes cast, Studdard received a total of 50.28 percent while Aiken got 49.72 percent, according to Fox.

Both Aiken and Studdard, also 24, already have album deals. Aiken is starting work on his own album, to be released by RCA Records. His first single, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," is also expected to be released within a few days while Studdard, who has already been signed to J Records, will start working on the studio this weekend. His first single, "Flying Without Wings," which Studdard sang during the competition, will be released next week while his debut album is expected to be launched by September.

In the meantime, Amazon.com has reported earlier this week that Aiken's not-yet-released single was the Web site's top-selling CD, while Studdard's was way back at No. 386.

The first Idol, Kelly Clarkson, went to No. 1 with her debut album, Thankful, and runner-up Justin Guarini and fourth-place finisher Tamyra Gray have upcoming albums.