Yeah, and Nabors pleaded with Hudson to deny it, because it was hurting his career. In relatively short order, CBS cancelled his prime time variety show, and Nabors’ daytime talk show barely lasted a year. At the time, there were reports that TV station managers were uncomfortable carrying a program hosted by a performer who was rumored to be gay.
So much for rumors. And as I recall, neither the variety show or the talk show were very good, regardless of Nabors’ sexual proclivities.
One more thing: at one point in my military career, the NCOIC who worked for me was a native of Hawaii, and lived not far from where Nabors bought his estate. According to my NCOIC, the “parties” at his house raised more than a few eyebrows, but “Gomer” managed to keep his homosexuality out of the public eye for decades.
***Wasn’t there a rumor back in the 1970’s that he had participated in a fake marriage ceremony with Rock Hudson?***
I remember the old joke about Gomer taking up boating and was last seen bobbing up and down on the Hudson.