Rosie Rips Ripa Over 'Homophobic' Clay Aiken Remark

(New York City) Rosie O'Donnell is accusing Kelly Ripa of making a homophobic comment about singer Clay Aiken. Last Friday Aiken co-hosted the Regis and Kelly show, sitting in for Philbin. At one point Aiken put his hand over Ripa's mouth in what was supposed to be a comic way. Ripa didn't see it that way, saying she didn't find it funny. "That's a no, no," adding "I don't know where that hand's been, honey." On Monday, when asked by Philbin about it Ripa said Aikin was being disrespectful and that previously he had been in the audience shaking hands with a lot of people. Tuesday the issue hit "The View", also on ABC, with O'Donnell calling Ripa's remarks offensive. O'Donnell said that as a gay woman she found it 'Homophobic". Aiken has been the subject of months of speculation about his sexuality. In interviews when the subject has come up he has dodged the question. Within minutes of O'Donnell's remarks Tuesday Ripa was on the phone to "The View" and things became heated. "He's shaking hands with everyone in the audience ... It's cold and flu season, that's what I meant, and to imply that it's anything homophobic is outrageous, Rosie, and you know better." O'Donnell shot back that she's not convinced the remark had anything to do with cold season. She went on to say that hosting a live talk show is difficult for anyone who isn't used to doing a live show. "I feel for the kid," she said. "He's in a very difficult space." So far Aiken is only one who has weighed in on the controversy.

*365Gay.com