David Archuleta is out and proud and living his best life.
It’s been 15 years since Archuleta won came in second on season 7 of American Idol at the age of 17 and got catapulted to international fame.
While riding the highs of a successful career, the devout Mormon was secretly waging an internal battle over his sexuality. After breaking off three engagements to women, he publicly came out as part of the LGBTQ+ community in 2021. He has since disclosed he identifies as queer.
In the two years since, Archuleta has been stepping into his power and enjoying the fruits of being his authentic self. Last month, he performed a litany of hits at his first Pride festival. He took confidently to the stage amid cheers from San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community.
He’s a Pride king now!
Stepping away from the church
In a new interview, the 32-year-old reflected on his journey to self-acceptance and how he has no regrets about stepping back from the church.
“I was praying and saying, ‘Please take this away from me. Please make me straight.’ And I finally had a moment and was like ‘No, you’re how you’re supposed to be. And as you can see, you’ve tried for 15 years to change this. It’s not going to change,’” he said of his coming out process in a new interview with Today. “I had a shift in beliefs and values all of a sudden. And it was freeing.”
Despite growing up in the Mormon faith in Utah and taking a break from his career to serve a two-year mission with the Church of Latter Day Saints, Archuleta is now enjoying every second of his secular era and is in no rush to return to the church.
He’s also begun plotting his next project.
“It’s hard to say I identify myself as Christian or another religion. I don’t really consider myself religious currently. I’ve had to distance myself,” he added. “I do plan to write a book about it, because having conversations with the leadership of my church, and seeing the conflict within their own way of doing things, I felt was quite alarming.”
Queer joy
Archuleta also has a direct message to those doubting he’s in a great place now that he’s stopped trying to reconcile his religious upbringing with his true self.
“I think a lot of people, especially from my religion, said, ‘Look at the darkness in his eyes. He’s so depressed and sad because he has accepted a part of him that he’s not supposed to accept.’ Actually, I am the happiest I’ve been,” he shared. “I’m no longer feeling like ending my life is better an option than existing.”
Part of Archuleta’s deep dive into queer joy has been getting more familiar with the art of thirst trapping.
In addition to flaunting his shirtless physique in a loincloth to star in a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the “Crush” singer has been delighting fans by sharing photos and videos of his muscular transformation via long hours in the gym.
With all the positive changes going on in his life, Archuleta has also gone back to his true passion of music.
In June, he released the guitar-driven single “UP”, which chronicled his path from darkness to self-love. Archuleta followed it up with an infectious summer bop entitled “I’m Yours” in July. He will release the new track “Afraid to Love” on August 18th.
It’s great to see Archuleta’s newfound freedom being reflected so beautifully in his work for all to enjoy.
Check out more of David Archuleta soaring to new heights serving choreo and giving us a fierce tank top moment in the video for “I’m Yours.”
bussybandit
Love me some Archuleta but these interviews don’t tell us anything about him that he hasn’t said before. He’s been done with the church queen suicidality for years, it’s old hat now. Let’s talk about the boyfriend he plays coy about or him living in WeHo partying.
I’m Yours is a bop though, he better keep singing about gay love and never go back to the convent!
dbmcvey
Good for him! I’m happy that he seems to be doing so well!
Jack
Man, I love the new David. His last few songs have been bangers. If you haven’t seen the video for Faith In Me…..fun as … Anybody who says he’s depressed and sad….projecting much?
LAGuy
Good for him. It takes a long time to distance yourself from the church when you’ve grown up in it. I think he’s doing fantastic.
ButtBandit
That mid femme twunk of his can’t be too happy never being mentioned and kept off the red carpets,but that’s probably why he does it.
humancobras666
who gives a f*ck about this nobody?
we all knew he was gay, then denied it over and over. Now you’re pulling a Ricky Martin and the only one that cares are idiots.
dbmcvey
I’m happy that you’ve never had to question yourself, ever, in your life.
winemaker
Well “bully for him” as my late father used to say. That being said good lucjk to him. Really anybody who leaves this cult unscathed and not screwed up should consider themselves lucky.