David Archuleta Details Ties With Heather Gay and Jessi Ngatikaura (Excl)
American Idol alum David Archuleta he formed long-lasting friendships with reality TV stars Heather Gay again Jessi Ngatikaura upon their former association with the Church of Latter-day Saints.
“A few nights ago, I was with Jessi, who is one of the most amazing women [The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives]who was vulnerable, open and dirty in front of everyone… [host] one of my book tour nights in Salt Lake City,” Archuleta, 35, said to himself. Us Weekly when we attended Actors Rising presented by The Actor Awards and ELLE on Thursday, February 26. “That was really fun.”
He added, “We found this special connection with each other, as we were both raised Mormons and left our religion and try to raise awareness of things that people usually try to brush off or try to pretend don’t exist in our religion, our culture and our families.”
Archuleta was raised in the Mormon church before leaving the faith in 2022, one year after coming out as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Ngatikaura, 33, was raised partly in the LDS church but is no longer affiliated with the religion. (Ngatikaura’s mother is Mormon, but his father is not.)
“It’s been really good,” Archuleta said Us of communication with Secret Lives of Mormon Wives humanity. “I feel like we’re having productive, important conversations, especially for our families in Utah.”
The “Dulce Amor” singer has also tied the knot The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Gay, 51, who also left the Mormon church after her divorce.
“Heather Gay and I have become friends, just because, since I came out,” Archuleta said. “I didn’t look Housewivesbut he kept saying, ‘I’m very happy for you.’ He was commenting on everything I had, and I was like, ‘Let’s invite him to the show.’
Gay accepted Archuleta’s invitation, attending one of his concerts before returning the favor and giving him copies of two of his memoirs.
“I sent him the book, and he’s been supportive the whole time,” Archuleta said Thursday, talking about his recently released book. Devotee a reminder. “It’s fun to get people in front of everyone and find out what it’s like to be watched, and have everyone participate in your business. It was fun.”
According to Archuleta, she and Gay even became texting buddies.
“I’m not much of a phone call person, but yes, we’ll text each other,” she said. “We’re not best friends, but we always have fun, and I love Heather.
Archuleta, on the other hand, has been forging her own path since attending the Mormon church and discovering her sexuality.
“I just try to be enthusiastic about life and encourage others to do the same,” he said Us. “I spent a lot of time being afraid to be myself, and afraid of what the world was, and now that I’m like, ‘You know what? Let’s enjoy life. We’re here. I’m so grateful to be here.'”
Archuleta continued, “I’m hoping to just continue to grow with myself and feel more confident making music that has an impact, that helps people feel recognized and connected and find a community. … It’s like, after leaving church and religion, it’s like, ‘Okay, where is my community that I used to have before?’ I don’t have it anymore, and I feel like I’m in the process of building that community.”
