Ex-Australian Idol Anthony Callea has admitted that he is gay.
The star, whose version of 'The Prayer' was the fastest selling single in Australian chart history, has spoken to Melbourne's Herald-Sun, confirming the years of speculation about his sexual orientation.Callea has been under pressure to address the issue after a Sydney radio traffic reporter Vic Larusso, of Edge 96.One FM's breakfast show, inadvertently referred to the Australian Idol runner-up's boyfriend.
In 2004 Callea denied that he was gay while speaking to The Age during the finals of the Australian Idol program. He told the Herald-Sun today that he regretted the denial, saying, "You learn from your mistakes. I was 21, 22 at the time. I didn't want to be known as just the gay contestant from Idol."
He told the tabloid, "I have no issue with my sexuality now, but it's taken time to become confident with who I am and happy with who I am." Callea noted that his fans would probably not be surprised and rightly ruminated, "I don't think it's a big issue. Who cares? If people have an issue with it, it's their issue. It shouldn't really be relevant to me being a singer and a performer."
