David Archuleta was seventeen years old, Mormon to his core, and singing in front of thirty million people on American Idol. America saw the golden boy - the angel voice, the humble smile, the kid who made grown adults cry on national television. What they didn't see was the father who controlled every note, every decision, every version of David he was allowed to be. "I basically was his puppet."

Behind the fame was the sweetest kid grappling with his own sexuality because his church told him who he was allowed to love, and who he wanted to love wasn't on their yes list. David believed that if he just prayed hard enough, God would "fix" the one thing about himself he'd been taught to hate. Spoiler: God had other plans.

Today is Part 1 of his story... it wrecked us in the best way.

Part 2 is available NOW exclusively for PATREON members.

DAVID'S NEW MEMOIR DEVOUT is now available.

FOLLOW US

For more culty content — follow us on Instagram & TikTok → @wasiinacult

FOLLOW DAVID

@Davidarchie

GET THE BOOK DEVOUT by David Archuleta - available everywhere books are sold. Audiobook includes a bonus EP of original songs. (Squeal!)

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Get PART 2 of David's story RIGHT NOW a week EARLY by joining our Patreon! Get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes conversations.

HAVE A CULTY STORY?

Email us → info@wasiinacult.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.