Exclusive: Adam Lambert Says He Won't Get Married
Credit: Todd Williamson/WireImage.com
Now that gay marriage is legal in NY state, everybody is placing bets on which gay celebrities will be hopping on a plane to say their vows there. But take your money off of Adam Lambert! Us Weekly talked with the openly gay pop star and American Idol alum about his new episode of VH1 Behind The Music (premiering this Sunday, August 7, at 10 p.m.) and squeezed in a question about his new boyfriend, Sauli Koskinen. Here's what the infamously open Lambert had to say about marriage for himself.
US: Why did you decide to take part in VH1 Behind the Music?
AL: I have seen previous episodes and it has always been something I have been interested in. I did not have any doubts about doing the show because I had previously done E! True Hollywood Story, which was more biographical. This episode focuses more on my music.
US: What will we see in the episode?
AL: The episode will portray a deeper, more personal view of my life. I was not always happy go lucky and things weren't always easy. At times things were difficult and confusing. Coming out of American Idol I was thrown into the spotlight so quickly and I faced many obstacles. I am finally starting to feel comfortable in this industry and in my own skin. The fans will get to see how I feel. There wasn't anything that was off limits for this episode because I am pretty open with my fans. I spoke about a lot.
US: What obstacles have you faced on your journey of becoming an entertainer?
AL: I haven't really faced many obstacles. I had a great, easy upbringing. I came out of the closet at eighteen and my family was supportive of me. I participated in numerous extracurricular activities and I was involved in the arts, which was an understanding environment. The only thing I found difficult was when I had to audition for the part of a romantically involved straight man because I had a hard time feeling comfortable and understanding the role. On the episode I talk about my experimentation with drugs but it didn't really affect my career in any way.
US: Do you think your sexual orientation has affected your career?
AL: It has caused controversy and at first I got nervous. This is a tricky career path, especially since most musicians aren't as open as I am. At first I thought, did I go too far? Was this a mistake? I realized I have to trust my gut and be myself. I can't please everyone.
US: What is your relationship like with boyfriend Sauli Koskinen? Any marriage plans yet?
AL: I don't like to talk about my relationship so if you see pictures of us out to dinner together, then great! I don't see myself getting married in the future.
US: When will we hear new music from you?
AL: I have been busy in the studio writing and recording so that has been taking up most of my time. I have had a lot of time to reflect on my journey. I have learned and grown and evolved. I am proud of the strides I've made. I am thinking the album will be out in the fall.
US: Can you describe the material on your upcoming album?
AL: This album is different in that is has a more serious tone. There is definitely fun, upbeat music on there too. This album has a thread of honesty in that it is real and personal. On this album I let people in further. It is an autobiographical album that portrays my dreams and aspirations. There are also some songs that deal with heartache and love. Whereas my old album was fun, campy, and over the top, this album is more contemporary and honest. The last album was more of a fantasy and this album is a search for my identity.
US: Any upcoming plans?
AL: I will be in New York recording the album. Lately I have had more involvement with different sociopolitical campaigns like The Trevor Project and Do Something. There is a quote in the VH1 Behind the Scenes special where I say, "I feel like I am an entertainer, not a politician." Beforehand I was leery about commenting on certain things but I am now more comfortable voicing my opinion on issues like marriage equality.
By Ian Drew for Us Weekly. To read more of Ian's blog, click here.
Tell Us What You Think
48Adam Lambert is a spectacular entertainer, but he is a an aged spirit. The wisdom which he speaks from his heart, would change the world if people would just listen to the deep meanings of his words. Gay men are incredibly spiritual. If only we could elect a gay president, the world would be O.K. again!
Adam Lambert is a spectacular entertainer, but he is a an aged spirit. The wisdom which he speaks from his heart, would change the world if people would just listen to the deep meanings of his words. Gay men are incredibly spiritual. If only we could elect a gay president, the world would be O.K. again!
The real point here is that why were you asking him about his personal life? None of your business. You wanted to intrude just to make headlines.
Whether Adam said what he was thinking exactly or not, perhaps it was prophetic how it came out. There will be obstacle to overcome if he is to marry (I hope!) Mr. Koskinen, who is a citizen from another country. U.S. law may complicate things if they choose to attempt marriage. I hope some day they overcome all obstacles. Meanwhile, looks like they are enjoying each other's company very much, and I wouldn't be surprised if they married one day. I can't wait until Adam's new music is released! I think it's going to be awesome, just like his first CD album, "For Your Entertainment"!
I think everybody is missing the point: Adam was not misquoted. He said what he said on tape and I printed the exact transcription of what he said above just as he said it. He then later realized he didn't like what he said, which is not my fault. As for discussing his personal life, I watched the VH-1 special before he did the interview and it is all about his personal life so of course I was going to ask about it because that is what the much of the special is about. If he doesn't want to discuss it, he shouldn't have discussed it throughout an hour-long TV special.
Again, Pink, Adam was not misquoted. What he says above is exactly what he said on tape. If he wanted to later go back and change what he actually said, he only needed to ring me up and ask me to change it. I never heard from him so I have nothing to change. He said what he said.
Oh please Ian....I find it hard to believe that you completely missed the point that everyone is making. The headline totally misrepresents what Adam said and the MAIN problem is NOT so much the headline itself but the fact that you misquoted Adam. You turned what could have been a great article representative of real journalism into the usual tabloid trash - reporting yet another lie....
omg glamberts, stfu already!!! THANK YOU IAN FOR WRITING THIS ARTICLE ABOUT ADAM. I LOVE READING ABOUT HIM ?
Ian I've been interested in Adam's career since it started. He has consistently been polite and respectful and frank - except with some anger towards tabloids when he thinks they have crossed the line. So I suspect he genuinely thought he had said what he quoted on twitter. And because he's had some tough experiences with the poor end of your guild (not you) he reacted. Its understandable and forgivable in my view. I hope you dont feel too polarised about it and hard done by. Had i been in your situation and heard him say he would never get married - i might have titled my article that too - it would have been news.
Everybody's fancies themselves a critic and you can't please everybody. If we had used a different headline, you'd all find something else to complain about. Que sera sera.
Would have been a GREAT interview/article had you focused on his MUSIC and/or the VH1 special and NOT his personal life. Regardless of what Adam said, or didn't say, his personal life should NOT be what is in the headlines. When you learn that Ian, then I might take you seriously as a journalist. Instead, you just came across as a glorified gossiper instead. Really pathetic, that you couldn't have used something about his special in the headlines INSTEAD!
Oh Ian, For someone who took happy delight in printing a sensationalist misleading headline about someone's personal life you're being awfully cute and precious about Adam calling you out on it. In today's world the media no longer has carte blanche to print what they like without fear of consequence. You just have to get used to it. We, that is ALL OF US!!! have access to social media like twitter that can and will be used to call you to account. Celebs can now take more control over what is printed about them and correct things that are wrong when necessary. Adam is well-known for using social media in this way and if you don't like being exposed publicly when you stuff up then the solution is simple, do your job properly in the first place. Adam shouldn't have to come after every single journo/media outlet asking them to print accurate stories about him and correcting every single mistake after he's generously taken the time to give them an interview. That's not his job, it's yours. I LOVE this age of instant global communication. Journos still haven't really caught on have they LMAO
Ian where you failed was not staying on the topic of the VH1 special as stated in your rebuttal. You also exacerbated the issue by using that off-topic information in your headline. That's just outright sensationalism. I've garnered a lot of off topic information in interviews I have done with artists and entertainers. Some of it could result in a major traffic increases to the sites I publish on. However, I have things called discretion and respect. I also come into an interview with a set list of topics I wish to cover, with those topics generally working together to create a cohesive article. I NEVER pry into my subjects' private lives. It's none of my business and it is especially not the public's business. Try being professional next time.
Yep, he shouldn't have blasted you on twitter. But I hope you will have compassion for the fact that he is probably dealing with an angry or embarrassed boyfriend (who Adam is head over heels in love with), a boyfriend who is not happy that headlines around the world are announcing that Adam has no plans to ever marry him. It was in the heat of the moment. I feel bad for you, Ian. I feel bad for Sauli and Adam.
Your argument about Adam not being misquoted is invalid. Since this was a piece to promote his VH1 BTM, you should have never led off with that sensationalizing headline. Many other tabloids took your headline and twisted it even more, say he was "never getting married" Finnish tabloids went with Adam is never going to marry Sauli, so you can see how this could effect a personal realation. I do agree it maybe could have been handled better, but I think it was in the heat of the moment, after seeing the other tabloid headlines.
If Adam says what he MEANT was "not in the near future", the quote should be amended and the headline changed to reflect it. Then the issue should be dropped. I hope future articles focus on his MUSIC and his extraordinary TALENT and not his personal life.
The marriage comment made a juicy bite for the article just as it was, didn't it? Tabloid reporters print quotes. True journalists communicate meaning. You have succeeded only in clarifying your own sensibilities. Obviously you misunderstood Adam Lambert regardless of what he may or may not have said. In my opinion, the error is on you, still.
Ian, he didn't attack this specific tabloid, just was mad at tabloids in general because they all run with this thing, like the marriage stuff was the only thing to focus on, when the man just wants to keep his private life private. plus maybe the 'near' future was implied, maybe it was context, maybe it's just that 'don't see myself' doesnt mean 'i dont want to and i won't' like lots of other sites said about him. everyone should just drop it, and focus on the new album.
Ian, he didn't attack this specific tabloid, just was mad at tabloids in general because they all run with this thing, like the marriage stuff was the only thing to focus on, when the man just wants to keep his private life private. plus maybe the 'near' future was implied, maybe it was context, maybe it's just that 'don't see myself' doesnt mean 'i dont want to and i won't' like lots of other sites said about him. everyone should just drop it, and focus on the new album.
Hi all: This is Ian. I just checked the tape and the transcript of the interview again to make sure and Adam 100% did NOT say 'near' future and he was not misquoted. His quote is exactly as it is written above. If he didn't like and wanted to revise what he actually said on tape, it would have been more professional of him to simply call me and ask me to change it. I would have happily obliged and revised the quote for him. To attack Us on Twitter when we did our job correctly and did a piece to promote his VH-1 special was not the proper way to handle this.