Nicki Minaj Chides Eliminated 'American Idol' Contestant: Be 'Gracious'

'American Idol' judge Nicki Minaj is declaring a Twitter war on ousted contestant Devin Velez for hisless than gracious remarks following his ouster from the Fox reality show. In particular, she warned against complaining that the judges didn't use their "save" to spare him from getting the axe.

"America r the 'potential' fans," she tweeted Friday. "U MUST win them over. 'Saves' are bullshit and they know it. Those girls are just too good this year."

Minaj didn't stop there, and shared her feelings about the show's male vocalists loud and clear, specifically eliminated 'Idol' hopeful Curtis Finch, Jr.

"Send the judges some flowers and a card," she continued. "If Curtis didn't get SAVED, NONE of u get saved. Best male voice of the SEASON!!!!!!!!!!! #TruthTea."

The contention began Wednesday when Minaj slammed Velez and his group, which also included Lazaro Arbos and Burnell Taylor, for their sub-par performance of TheFour Tops'song,"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)," during which the boys fumbled the lyrics to the Motown classic. Minaj said "Im gonna act like I didnt see that or hear it" and ordered all three boys to leave the stage.

But Velez asserted he knew his part of the song, stopping short of naming a weak link in the group as being at fault for its poor performance. Velez addressed the situation during a conference call with reporters Friday, where he had some choice words for the judge.

"I agree with the first half o! f her critique, when she said that it felt like it was Hollywood week, that it was a joke, that stuff like that should not happen, that she was going to pretend that she didnt hear it," he said. "When she went crazywhen she was like get off the stage, blah blah blah and its just like whoa Miss Minaj, I need you to calm down please.'"

He added that "we still love Nicki" but that hearing her critique was "a little cutting while on stage."

Velez even threw a little shade at Minaj's professionalism in later comments, saying "She could have been upset because the night before she was wearing the same colored dress as Mariah, or that she was on time. We never know. But I know that I love her as a judgeIts when she gets into the exaggerative speaking, where its just like, Ah, take it easy! You dont wanna hurt somebody elses feelings."

Minaj let it be known on Twitter that she would have none of Velez's sour grapes, firing off a series of tweets, beginning with one that read: "Lol. Be mad @AMERICA when u get sent home. The JUDGES are the ones who FOUGHT for America to get the opp to vote for you #memba?"

Minaj also informed Velez that he needed to grow up, tweeting "Trust me BEW BEW. If EYE didn't want u in that TOP, YOU wldnt have been in that TOP. Fought for ALL of You. So just simply b gracious."

The outspoken judge, who continued her impromptu mentoring session, concluded with an 'American Idol' history lesson: "Jennifer Hudson didn't win!!! Oscar Winner! #memba??? ok. Take tha! t exposur! e and let your light shine."

The 18-year-old Velez then responded with a tweet he later deleted: "That moment when an adult stoops down to the 3rd grade level...LOL grow up Hun, I've got songs to write. :) #movingforward."