'American Idol' Producer: 'No Reason' Contestants Should Come Out on the Show

As we reported earlier this week, when Adam Levine, judge on "The Voice," Maroon 5 frontman and singer of the summer hit "Moves Like Jagger," was interviewed by Out Magazine, he had some unkind things to say about how "American Idol" tends to mask their contestant's sexuality.

"What's always pissed me off about 'American Idol' is wanting to mask that, for that to go unspoken. C'mon. You can't be publicly gay? At this point? On a singing competition? Give me a break," said Levine.

Well, the producers of "American Idol" have responded.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly today, Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe talked about how the show treats its contestants (gay or otherwise) and defended the show from criticism from Levine and others.

"To be frank, I didn’t understand why we’re talking about contestants being gay or not gay. I don’t go into my dentist and say, 'Are you gay?' I don’t say to contestants on 'So You Think You Can Dance,' 'Are you gay?' What does it got to do with me? What does it got to do with anybody? When does privacy stop in this country? If somebody wants to say they’re gay, it’s up to them. You don’t expect us to turn around and say, 'Are you gay?' Why would we do that? - 'By the way, he’s a Catholic and he supports Obama and here’s his sexuality' - what does that have anything to do with singing talent? Maybe it does for Adam Levine, but not for me," said Lythgoe.

When talking about gay Idol contestant Adam Lambert, who many believe didn't win because of his sexuality, Lythgoe said:

"He must have come out before being on 'Idol', he just didn’t talk about it on 'Idol.' And why should he? Is every actor going on television going to say, 'I’m only playing the part of a straight man, I’m really gay'?"

Lythgoe went on to say "there’s no reason that I would see why anybody that goes on television should start coming out with who they are, what they are, what their sexuality is, who they’re going to vote for or what their religion is."

What do you think? Is Lythgoe right? Should "American Idol" contestants and other entertainment figures stay in the closet? If a contestant disagrees with Lythgoe on that point, will they be punished in judging? Let us know what you think in the comments.