Live! With Regis and Hypocrite!
Blog by Sean Gehon, Tuesday, July 10, 2007
As individuals, we’re given the right and the ability to form our own opinions and personalities. Our parents, teachers, friends and family instill those values and the ability to tell the difference between right and wrong. While life often forces us to question our moral and personal beliefs, we are always provided with the option to rise above the negative views of others and do our best to promote a positive environment around us. Unfortunately for some people, they’re not so lucky. There are those inhabiting this planet who choose to make poor decisions and negatively affect those around them. Even worse, those people who claim to take the moral high road and be positive good meaning people often end up proving themselves to be hypocrites.
Several months ago during a guest hosting appearance on Live With Regis and Kelly, Clay Aiken found himself surrounded in controversy. During a segment of the show, Clay placed his hand across Kelly Ripa’s mouth in a failed attempt at humour. Kelly proceeded to berate Clay by belittling him on live television, stating that she wasn’t sure where his hand had been and shouldn’t be placing it over her mouth. On the next day’s episode of The View, Rosie O’Donnell accused Kelly Ripa of homophobia because of the incident. Months later, something curious happened on yesterday’s episode of Live With Regis and Kelly. Guest host Jeff Gordon accidentally took a sip from Kelly’s coffee cup during the live taping of the show. Kelly, no longer seeming to fear germs, made light of the incident by also taking a sip from her cup right after Jeff had. I now ask the question, which is worse… a hand covering your mouth, or sharing the same cup?
Kelly Ripa seemed very concerned and angered when Clay placed his hand over her mouth. Now, I’m not about to excuse Clay’s actions because I would agree that he was quite rude by doing that to Kelly. However, for someone who’s concerned about germs and getting ill by someone placing his hand over her face, I’m almost certain that your mouth also shares an equal amount of germs. Mono, the common cold, strep throat, among others are easily transferable by sharing a drink, even if it is just a sip. This then raises the question, what makes Jeff Gordon different than Clay Aiken?
Rosie O’Donnell accused Kelly Ripa of homophobia following her altercation with Clay Aiken. At first I thought Rosie was insane. I had assumed that Kelly was legitimately concerned about germs or thought that Clay Aiken had crossed a line when he placed his hand across her mouth, now I’m not so sure. Clay Aiken, for the record, hasn’t come out of the closet and may very well be heterosexual, although I doubt it. But could Rosie be on to something?
I’m not about to accuse Kelly Ripa of homophobia, and I’m not about to side with Rosie O’Donnell. What I am willing to do however, is call Kelly Ripa a hypocrite. There is absolutely no reason to embarrass Clay Aiken on national television for ‘infecting you with germs’ if you’re going to allow Jeff Gordon to do the same thing, you’re a hypocrite. I’m all for being healthy and taking care of your body, but there is a time to respect your fellow man, and a time to worry about germs. Clay Aiken crossed a line, if you’re going to freak out on him, either do it off camera or give the same treatment to everyone.
And to think… I used to like Kelly Ripa.
Sean (Kelly and Clay -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1r6Wh4NasY )
