Lee DeWyze has spoken out against Nigel Lythgoe’s claims that he refused to appear on the recent American Idol finale.

The 25 year old singer won last year’s season of the hit reality TV series but the executive producer claimed that he turned down an offer to present his successor Scotty McCreery with his trophy on Wednesday.

Speaking about the event, Nigel Lythgoe tweeted:

‘I was so upset Lee DeWyze wouldn’t present the winner’s trophy to Scotty. Especially as he’s been on the show this season. I guess he was shy.”

However Lee claimed that he was only asked at the last minute and was not invited to perform on the tqo hour extravaganza.

“Why he said that, I can’t speak for him,” DeWyze told The Hollywood Reporter. “I was not asked to perform on the show, which was something I was hoping to be a part of since it was such a big part of my life, and a last-second scramble seemed inappropriate and kind of ridiculous.

“I thought, rather than getting up there and being in Scotty’s limelight while he’s going through the biggest change in his life, I would much rather be a viewer. I don’t know what point he’s trying to make, but it’s really not a big deal to me anymore.”