David Archuleta has spoken out about fans who walked out of his Christmas show after he made an emotional speech about his gay “journey.”
Archuleta is currently taking his “The More the Merrier” Christmas tour across venues in his home state of Utah.
The musician said that dozens of guests left his recent show in Delta, located southwest of Salt Lake City, as he opened up about his story about coming out.
He took to Instagram and Facebook on Thursday to share an upsetting email his manager received, complaining that his 15-minute speech at the end ruined the “incredible experience” of the Christmas show.
“I do not believe that, that concert was a setting for that to happen,” the email read. “We have some very upset patrons that I will [be] dealing with today. I would hope in the remaining concerts, that would not be allowed and just allow them to have an awesome Christmas experience.”
Archuleta turned to social media to address the situation and stood by his comments during the show.
“I am sharing something that I’ve felt I had to keep hidden nearly all my life. Because you believe your existence is unacceptable. That mindset is not healthy,” Archuleta wrote.
The 31-year-old rose to fame in 2008 when he came in second place, behind David Cook, on Season 7 of “American Idol.”
Archuleta has shared that he struggled with coming to terms with his sexuality while being raised in a strict Mormon — which condemns same-sex relationships — household. He eventually came out to his family in 2014 and then to the public in 2021.
The singer revealed in his Instagram post that he was so ashamed of his homosexuality that he considered taking his own life rather than coming out to the world. “I was thinking ending my life was better than admitting this openly,” he said.
“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 is unclear who sent the email complaint. A representative for Archuleta did not immediately respond to The Post for further comment.
Since coming out publicly in the summer of 2021, Archuleta has been sharing his heartbreaking journey struggling with anxiety and suicidal thoughts as he came to accept his queerness.
“I will not apologize for anything I say however imperfectly I express it. I am me. And I will never apologize for it again how I did for so many years before,” he said in his post.