The Voice – Jamar Rogers On Speaking Out on HIV+ Diagnosis

By On 02/08/2012 · 36 Comments · In American Idol, The Voice

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When The Voice contestant, Jamar Rogers revealed he was HIV positive on the show Monday night, those of you who remember him as Danny Gokey’s best friend from Season 8 of Idol, were probably surprised. He never revealed his diagnosis on the air–not even to Idol producers as he tells the New York Post:

Jamar Rogers — a food bank volunteer from The Bronx — auditioned for Seasons 8 and 9 of “American Idol” without ever disclosing he was living with HIV.

“I remember being completely petrified throughout that entire process that the producers would find out,” he says. “Maybe my roommate would find out. I just lived with this massive cloud over my head.”

Now, his secret is out.

Rogers 29, shared his condition with almost 20 million viewers when he auditioned Monday night for another singing show — NBC’s “The Voice.”

“I decided to come clean because, at some point, you have to decide that you want to live for something greater than yourself,” says Rogers, who landed a spot on Team Cee Lo.

When Jamar auditioned for Idol in the summer of 2008, only his best friend, Danny Gokeyknew his secret.  Jamar says Idol producers knew about his drugs past, but opted not to use it on the show. “But ‘Idol’ is a different kind of show. Their audience is more conservative,” he says.

Hm.  The Voice’s audience is a little younger, but I’m not sure if they are more conservative.  If Jamar goes deep into the competition, we’ll see if his dark past hurts him or not. I think it’ll help, especially if he’s good. It would have helped him on Idol too.  Everybody loves a good redemption story.

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  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NDYOWBIIPZU6PBRHGOPT2ZZJXQ sweetmm

    The background story in TVoice comes across more like a matter of fact; not as dramatic as how portrayed in AI.  At the end of Jamar’s audition what stuck in my mind was his performance and his interaction with CeeLo. 

  • Anonymous

    While I don’t think Jamar is the best vocalist in the world, I am glad that as a public figure, he found the courage to overcome his addiction and reveal the consequences of his past that he continues to live with.  I can’t think of a single actor, singer or other type of popular performer whose personal life isn’t part of what makes them a star. 

    I am sad the conversation around him being HIV positive is so quickly intermingled with assumptions about his sexuality.

  • Anonymous

    Again, I’m sorry, but stereotyping is one of the most difficult things for members of a minority to overcome. They’re usually based on how they are perceived by the majority which are often skewed by prejudice or ignorance. I would never dare suggest there was a particular way to act straight or that I have “straightdar,” so I often wish others would share in the common courtesy of not applying outdated and generic stereotypes to other people. I find the whole idea of stereotyping anyone based on gender, religion, geography, orientation, etc to be ignorant, sorry. I’m also from the south and resent negative assumptions that I’m uneducated or a “redneck,” but that’s a stereotype people make when they hear my accent. One group of people judging another and building stereotypes from that judgement does not make them true.

    I don’t understand why anyone would choose to believe others are living a lie based purely on my own suppositions, but I guess people in general are just as varied as individual groups of people. I do agree we probably will never agree on this subject.

  • Anonymous

    While I agree with you about what is private staying private unfortunately in this day with tabloids, the internet and TMZ nothing stays private so for someone seeking celebrity the question is do you want to put it out there in your own way or have someone else do it for you in a way that might blindside you… as for career being helped or hurt I do not think it has hurt Adam any.. If Jamal is on medication for HIV and has a drug past it would have come out if he went far enough in the show.. at least this way is isnt something that is going to be exposed halfway through the competition and throw him off his game.

  • Anonymous

    Yikes…a certified stereotype expert…and a proud one….how ‘typical’. Please spend a day in my childhood if you dare…lol.

    Back to the real topic: I don’t know how I feel about his sob story…usually I hate them, but this one is different..I really hope he performs well so I can root for him.

    There are many people that don’t understand HIV and will be scared to be around him now. Imagine all the hate he may receive from people in his personal life who felt deceived because he never told them. My sis is a nurse and told me that I’d be shocked by the number of people that I interact with that have HIV/AIDS but won’t tell anyone because they want to live normal lives…

  • OhMyRawrrr

    Whether or not it was good, necessary, or will help him on the show or hurt him, I think it was something he needed to unload from himself.  Will this hurt or help his career?  I don’t know.  Will it help him personally with the weight of that secret hanging over his head.  Absolutely.  Wish him the best (and I haven’t even heard him sing yet)  :)

  • PerfectStorm

    I was ticked off when Jamar didn’t make it through on Idol in Season 8. It made me dislike the pimping of Danny & his backstory even more. I thought that Jamar was clearly the greater talent of the two friends.

    I disagree. Jamar’s audition wasn’t very good on Idol. I was surprised he got as far as he did. Much improved on The Voice.

  • popfan12

    The stereotype is accurate in this case. He does in fact identify as a gay man but He is married for the sake of his career. I know this to be a fact because he was my boyfriend before his drug use became a problem. His wife is well aware of his sexual orientation. I do find it offensive that he can tell the world that he’s living with HIV but not that he is gay. 

  • popfan12

    Your gaydar is accurate. Hopefully he will come to his senses and get real with the world. 

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  • http://twitter.com/oceacha chae

    I use to work with Jamar he is a beautiful person

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