Mandisa Says She's Not a Gay 'Advocate'

KellieThePick · 04-10-2006, 08:29 AM

Is ousted "American Idol" contestant Mandisa anti-gay? The 29-year-old soul singer and outspoken Christian, who was voted off the hit Fox show Wednesday, says she would not perform at an event held in support of the gay community.

Mandisa, a native of Antioch, Tenn., tells Advocate magazine, "Based on what I believe, I'm not an advocate for (being gay), so it's nothing I would take part in."

Still, she says in an interview in the magazine's Web site, she's "really upset" by speculation she endorses the ex-gay movement a collection of Christian groups that seek to alter sexual orientation. The speculation stemmed from comments she made on the "American Idol" Web site praising author and speaker Beth Moore, of Living Proof Ministries. Moore's Web site has links to groups such as Exodus International that discourage homosexuality.

"It broke my heart," Mandisa says. "I live my life by the value system that you treat others the way you want to be treated. I let love be my guide. I absolutely hate no one."

Long a favorite of "Idol" judges, she says her views "could have contributed" to her surprising elimination. "Idol" contestants are trimmed weekly based on fan voting.

"Honestly, I'm not sure," she says. "I've heard a lot of different theories about what could have happened, and all of 'em sound pretty decent to me."

Pickled Pink · 04-10-2006, 08:34 AM

I just think she really messed up by singing a gospel song during the competition and showing what she believed in so early looked kind of indulgent as Simon would say.

You have to pay your dues before you can do something like that. Plus, there's a lot of heavy competition.

I have nothing against gospel music. I am a Christian myself.

north_clt · 04-10-2006, 08:51 AM

She's said the comments before the song were based on her own lifestyle.

Here's the comment:

Last week, she prefaced her cover of Mary Mary's "Wanna Praise You" by dedicating the song to "everybody that wants to be free. Your addiction, your lifestyle or situation may be big, but God is bigger."

and what she said about them:

Her comments before the song, she says, had to do with her own weight issues. "That song is a very personal testimony to me," she says. "I've been dealing with a food-related addiction for much of my life. ... I've been living a lifestyle where I've been giving in to every indulgence of food that I've had. So that was just me saying that God is freeing me of it."

Source:

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlot...l/14289934.htm

==

But I guess some people heard the word "lifestyle" and assumed she meant gays.

It went right past me. I thought she might be in trouble last week because she really didn't do that well on that last song.

But I have seen some comments on other sites from people who were upset with her. So maybe it did have an effect.

AshlaeSeacrest · 04-10-2006, 08:56 AM

I'm not against gays and I'm not gay but I think you should respect everyone's belief. I respect Mandisa but why would she make a comment like that? I don't think it was her religion but I do think having 2 bad weeks and the gay comment kinda mess her up.

Pickled Pink · 04-10-2006, 08:57 AM

That is totally ironic that she was talking about her own problems with over-eating when she said lifestyle and gays thought she was making a dig at them.

texdale · 04-10-2006, 01:04 PM

Mandisa's lifetime on Idol five was limited from the start and it had nothing to do with her beliefs....She just did not have the WHOLE package..Rueben did not have the whole package but his big ole teddybear image drew fans to him....Both he and Clay had the vocals but Rueben's image helped push him over the hump....

*Kayla* · 04-10-2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshlaeSeacrest

I'm not against gays and I'm not gay but I think you should respect everyone's belief. I respect Mandisa but why would she make a comment like that? I don't think it was her religion but I do think having 2 bad weeks and the gay comment kinda mess her up.

Yes i a gree,I am not again them,and i am not one,but if thats what they want to belive than thats there Choice,I am a Christian to,so its not her religon.