Clay Aiken: 'Duck Dynasty' Star's Comments 'Built Out of Fear'

Clay Aiken, the singer best known for nearly winning the top prize on American Idol, has an explanation for why Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson said what he did about the gay lifestyle in an interview with GQ magazine

Aiken, who came out as gay after appearing on the popular reality series, told Arsenio Hall Thursday night that Robertson’s “homophobia” is the result of a lack of diversity in his neighborhood.

I think it certainly shows that we’ve got a long way to go when it comes to people being accepting and understanding,” Aiken, who came out as gay in 2008, said. “Homophobia, racism …. all of it’s built out of fear. All of it’s out of fear. And if you grow up in an area like Louisiana and you’re not exposed to diversity, then you can be afraid of things.