"Back then it was a big deal," he says, noting that ticket sales for Broadway's 'Spamalot' — which he was starring in at the time — dropped, and the show closed a few months later.

Clay Aiken reflects to PEOPLE on his coming out story, how it affected his fanbase and how times have changed since. The 'American Idol' alum came out on the cover of PEOPLE in September 2008.

Clay Aiken recently looked back on the challenges he faced when he came out in 2008, and how far society has come since then. The "American Idol" alum first revealed his sexuality as a gay man on the cover of People Magazine in 2008 after welcoming his son Parker in August that year.