Remember Sanjaya? Of course you do! We all watched American Idol back then. Well, Mr. Malakar was just 16 at the time, but he was still basically labeled as queer for his demeanor and outrageous looks.
Now 32 (I know), he is coming out as bi for the first time ever on The Adam Sank Show Podcast. Now a pastry chef in Montana, Sanjaya talked to Sank about how tough Simon Cowell was on him — calling him “horrendous” — and about all the adulation and hate he received.
Regarding his sexual orientation, Sanjaya says: I identify as bisexual. At the time, I did not know, which was why it was so weird for me … I was raised by women, I was in theater, I had a hard time figuring out how to interact with young boys … Everyone [kept] telling me that I’m gay, and I’m, like, 7.
I’m like, “I don’t even have any attraction to anyone, so why are you telling me this?” Listen to the full, 40-minute show here.