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The Voice's Adam Levine Criticizes Idol Over Treatment of Gay Contestants

What's one big difference between The Voice and American Idol?If you ask Adam Levine, it's how the shows treat their gay contestants. Is The Voice on your Watchlist? Add it and your other favorites now and never miss an episode"What's always pissed me off about Idol is wanting to mask that, for that to go ...

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Joyce Eng

What's one big difference between The Voice and American Idol?
If you ask Adam Levine, it's how the shows treat their gay contestants.

Is The Voice on your Watchlist? Add it and your other favorites now and never miss an episode

"What's always pissed me off about Idol is wanting to mask that, for that to go unspoken. C'mon," he tells Out magazine. "You can't be publicly gay? At this point? On a singing competition? Give me a break. You can't hide basic components of these people's lives."While The Voice featured four openly gay singers last season, Idol has come under fire over the years for allegedly keeping its gay contestants in the closet while they're on the show — most notably with Adam Lambert two years ago. "The fact that The Voice didn't have any qualms about being completely open about it is a great thing," Levine adds.

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Despite his criticism, the Maroon 5 frontman — who revealed his younger brother is gay to Out — recognizes that Idol is still the big man on campus."I can't f--- with American Idol," he says. "It's a cultural institution. On The Voice, we just care about a different list of things. It's for a different type of person, I guess."Do you agree with Levine?