Since David Archuleta announced earlier this year that he was taking a step back from the Mormon church, some followers are commenting that he seems a little bit more at ease with himself.
At the end of last week he posted a cute and sweet video demonstrating his festive gym workout. It’s basically him dancing to Ariana Grande. It ends with him punching his phone.
@davidarchieOh you know just trying another tiktok dance at the gym♬ Ariana Grande Last Christmas Showmusik Dance Remix – Showmusik Sounds
Many followers judged it cute but had thoughts about his outfit.
“Cute, but let’s get this #outandproud man some 5” shorts to welcome him officially,” said a well-liked comment on Instagram.
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On TikTok, someone similarly said, “Sign this boy up for some 5” inseams, please. Basketball shorts are out ❤️”
Another person said, “I am LOVING the new and liberated David! That is all.”
One person asked Archuleta how long he’d practiced the routine.
“Like 45+ minutes tbh why you think I was punching by the end lol” Archuleta replied.
Related: David Archuleta talks about kissing a man for the first time last year
Taking a break from the church
The American Idol alum, who came out as queer in the summer of 2021, has spoken before of struggling to reconcile his religious upbringing with his sexuality.
When younger, he was engaged to three different women but broke it off each time. The last broken engagement was just a couple of months before he came out.
“I’m finally learning what it’s like to actually love myself,” Archuleta, 31, told People at the start of last month. “I feel liberated.”
On taking a break from the church, he said, “For my own mental health, I can’t keep putting myself in a place where it’s so conflicting where they say, ‘We love you so much, but at the same time, you must change who you are. Oh, you can’t? Then we’re going to ignore this problem’.”
“It hurts me because my religion was everything for me. But you get to a point where you realize there are some things not right here. I need to just live my life, because I already know I’m okay how I am.”
Related: David Archuleta to homophobic fans who stormed out of his show: “I will not apologize for anything”
Archuleta has been touring a Christmas concert show in recent weeks. At the start of this month, he revealed some fans walked out at the end of a show when he used the encore to talk about his journey to self-acceptance.
“I didn’t say anything explicit or inappropriate,” he said afterward. “If a few dozen people walk out, but there are others staying who need to know they’re not alone in this journey. It’s worth it to me. It’s healing. And helps me not be ashamed of who I am like I was for many years.”
Major
I feel in love with David during his American Idol days and I am always happy seeing him living his best life.
ShiningSex
The fact that he denied over and over again when WE ALL KNEW is ridiculous. It’s like when Ellen refused to say….I mean who is that blind? It’s Ricky Martin syndrome, but the only difference is Ricky had a major career….David never did.
dbmcvey
@ShiningSex,
All those people were in the closet at the beginning of their careers and came out later. Why punish them for coming out? He was raised in a seriously conservative cult and was 18 when he won American Idol. You come out right away when you have that kind of an upbriging.
Ronbo
ShiningSex is a misnomer… really just jealous. He/She/Ze was never a talent or 14 year old. Just likes tearing people apart.
RichAM
He’s such a cute puppy and so talented. Only wish the best for him!
ShiningSex
you have bad taste
jsmu
@Shining Sex
Your taste is in your cloaca. Look it up, trollette.
Terrycloth
Listening to David speak. He sounds like Mathew Broderick…I wish David much happiness and your self discovery is sometimes scary yet magical at the same time…be true to you first. Everything else will follow
jsmu
What a vomitous troll you are.
You’re the Karen who whined about artists ever doing anything but being dancing monkeys.
FOAD, toad!
bachy
Wow! Kudos to Cameron Scheetz: I thought your interview was very sensitively and effectively conducted. And to David Archeluta, I can only say, that if there is some Higher Power from which the universe has emerged in all its mystery and splendor, I cannot imagine that it is constrained by the pettiest prejudices and fears one finds among small-minded and uneducated people.
The real Bruce
So very well said.
ShiningSex
Who cares about him? A has been that never was.
A closet case that NOW wants us to accept him when NOTHING is going on. Girl bye!
His music was awful too.
Mack
Jealous much?????????????????
dbmcvey
Bitter. Did he ignore you at the gym?
linedrive
You certainly care about him. He lives rent-free in your head because you jump into every comment section in every post on here about him so you can say how much you don’t care. Why the obsession?
jsmu
Turned you down, did he, beeyotch? ROTFLMFAO!
igoape13
Hush Karen. Nobody likes a jealous bitch. He has had hit singles and now is moving into acting.
Sounds like he has his stuff together. Did he not answer your fan mail?
Tombear
Boring!
tameron1
He is so genuine and sincere. Very refreshing to hear. Cute too!
jdr11201
David has a beautiful soul. I love watching his smile. He’s growing right before all our eyes. ?
ingyaom
The always adorable David Archuleta
igoape13
Look at that face. The way he carries himself. He kicked open the closet door and kicked in the church. This is the face of a man newborn and i love his exuberance and nonchalant attitude. He has a joie de vivre that he didn’t have before. I wish him love and success in his path through life.
The real Bruce
What a great interview. You really get to see and hear that David has evolved so much. I’m sure his twenties were a struggle to discover himself. I think he has and I wish him well for the future.
xanadude
It is still kind of heartbreaking that he sounds like he still can’t completely accept himself because of what The Church tells him.
dinard38
I grew up in an extremely strict religion (Pentecostal Apostolic). I no longer believe in that BS, but it is extremely difficult to deprogram things that have been programmed in your head for years and years. Even though I don’t believe the religious BS, there’s always that voice way in the back of my mind saying……what if it’s real? What if hell is real?
So I empathize with what David is going through. It’s going to take time to remove that cult programming.
DBMC
It takes hard to come out of the fog. When you’re born into these all encompassing religions it takes a long time to shake.
DBMC
He seems like a sweet kid and I’m glad he’s gotten away from the church. I wish only good things for him.