A day after
getting booted from American Idol, Mandisa
talks exclusively to The Advocate about the gay
controversy that may have done her in and explains why
you'll never see her belting at the White Party.
Wednesday night was your last night on American
Idol. What are your feelings? You must be upset.
I was. I was shocked, and I wasn't ready to go.
In hindsight, I look back on it now and it was my
time. You can't go wrong with who they've got left.
It's going to be a great season this year.
There's been controversy about your comments on the
Idol Web site and your appreciation for antigay
writer and lecturer Beth Moore. Some took it as an
endorsement of the "ex-gay" movement. What do you
say to people who were turned off by that?
I just heard about that a couple of days ago. It
broke my heart. 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. When I
heard that I was really upset.
Is there a conflict between being religious and
being gay?
I know my value system, based on that, that on
the word [of the Bible], that it does speak of that. I
do know I have no place to judge anybody. I know that
at the end of time we all face the judge and his name is not
going to be Mandisa, so I cannot place any judgment on
anyone.
Would you be comfortable performing or singing at a
gay event?
I would not, no.
Would it conflict with your religious beliefs?
Based on what I believe, I'm not an advocate for
[being gay], so it's nothing I would take part in.
Do you think that feeling contributed—along
with your Web site profile—to some people not
voting for you?
It's possible. Honestly, I'm not sure. I've
heard a lot of different theories about what could
have happened, and all of 'em sound pretty decent to
me. So I just know I did my best and I tried to live my life
in public the way I do in my personal life. You know,
it was just my time and it could have contributed.
Would you change anything if you had the choice?
I wouldn't. I don't have any regrets. It's been
an amazing ride for me. I have enjoyed every second,
every minute of it. So I am not looking back on it. I
enjoyed myself so much, I wouldn't want to change a thing.
Before you sang the Mary, Mary gospel song “Wanna
Praise You,” you mentioned that people's various
addictions and lifestyles are not as strong as
God. Were you speaking of gay people?
No, no. That song was a very personal testimony
for me. I've been dealing with an addiction to food
for most of my life. I've been living in a lifestyle
of pure indulgence, giving in to every single desire that
I've had as far as what I've put into my body. So when
I was speaking that, I was strictly speaking of how
the Lord has helped me to overcome my personal
struggle and I was just saying if God can do it for
me—and a lot of other people face many
different things out there—I was trying to be a
testimony that he can do it for anybody.
Do you think gay people can turn straight?
I don't really know. I honestly don't know much
about it. I wouldn't be very knowledgeable to speak on
that subject.
What are your future plans?
Not sure. There's a lot of possibilities that
have opened up for me. So I'm just looking forward to
seeing what is next and can't wait to see what's in
store.
Thank you, Mandisa. Good luck.
Thank you.
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