NEWSTiffany Talks Outing NKOTB Jonathan Knight, Turning 40
Jan. 25 2011, Published 5:45 a.m. ET
When 80s pop star Tiffany declared that New Kids On The Block’s Jonathan Knight was gay on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, she confirmed rumors to be true.
“I didn’t know it was going to be such a big deal,” she tells me Monday during her SyFy original movie premiere of Mega Python Vs. Gatoroid at Ziegfeld Theater in NYC. “2011 for me is all about ‘I don’t want to know anything.’ ”
It all came about when host Andy Cohen asked if she dated anyone famous when she appeared with Debbie Gibson on the show that aired after the record-shattering Real Housewives of Beverly Hills finale January 20.
“The quiet one, the shy one," Tiffany admitted on Watch What Happens Live. "Jonathan Knight became gay later. I didn't do it. I had issues with that. I was thinking maybe I did. Now looking back when we were dating, he was so much fun. We used to do facials together. He was so easy to talk to."
The following day, Jonathan took to Twitter to say “I’m so devastated … How can I remember not getting facials???????”
Hours later, he asked fans to stop posting mean things about her, then Tweeted, “Tiff, please don't lose any sleep over it! I know you weren't being mean and I found it to be funny!”
OK! NEWS: JONATHAN KNIGHT OUTED BY POP ICON TIFFANY AS GAY
For such a showbiz surprise, he seems to be taking it well.
“He’s darling,” Tiffany tells me. “Of course he’s a darling. I never meant to hurt him, and I think he’s an awesome person. I really do. He has so much class.”
Hmm, any possibility that the married mom would tour with NKOTB … just like she did in the 80s?
“Well, I’m doing country music now,” she says. “It would be a little difficult. I’m delivering a new album next month. It’s called Rose Tattoo. It’s very country blues. It’s Bonnie Raitt with a Stevie Ray Vaughan vibe. Musically, I’m diverse now from the group. I’ve winged off into something I’ve wanted to do for 15 years. I’m a rocker at heart. I love country music, started in country music. I’m really just going back to my roots.”
(Oh yeah, I remember reading the teen magazines … she started singing Tanya Tucker’s Delta Dawn when she was young.)
Another thing on deck later this year for the woman who made her place in pop culture with I Think We’re Alone Now and Could’ve Been? Turning 40.
“I’m okay with it,” she confesses, adding that her son is 18. “It’s just a number. I think women have changed that number especially. We’re getting better. I have a lot of role models in that, and I live life. I think life is great. 40’s just a number, girl.”
Here’s my pic with Tiffany and Debbie Gibson:
Check back later this week for more coverage of Debbie Gibson and Tiffany from their SyFy premiere of Mega Python Vs. Gatoroid. I’ve got my Team Debbie button passed out at the event hanging in my cubicle. (I got four of them … they’re collectors items, wow!) ;) And catch their SyFy original movie on Saturday. It's a must-see! Here's a clip:
