Tim Urban Responds To Criticisms Following "American Idol" Elimination

Tim Urban, the 20-year-old, fresh-faced Texas-native, was the latest crooner to be cast-off from "American Idol." He was sent packing on Wednesday night and was finally able to dish on the criticisms he received during his time on the show, including those from bloggers, media, and even Simon.

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Urban almost didn't make it to the Top 20. He was cut back during Hollywood Week but after a contestant was disqualified, he was asked back into the competition. Now he made it all the way to the Top 7 but not without his criticisms. Week in and week out, he was the biggest target for Simon's most disapproving post-performance remarks.

"You know, it was funny. Simon and I never had a problem," Urban said. "I actually didn't have a problem with Simon's critiques. I thought he was just speaking his mind and I took that and tried to use it and apply it. It was cool that he recognized that I was working towards that stuff, and that was really encouraging, but we never had a problem to begin with."

While his vocal prowess isn't quite up there with other "Idol" alums, plenty of critics and bloggers chalked up his continued success on the show due to this good looks, charisma, and big, bright smile. Those shirtless pics that hit the internet likely didn't hurt either. But Urban says he doesn't worry about what the critics say.

It seems that people just like to take somebody and then find something that they don't like about them and talk about it. I get that. It's part of dealing with the industry, it's part of being in the spotlight. So, people are going to say that, but people are going to say that about pretty much anybody. You'll find people that don't like any artist out there, and so you have to deal with it, shrug it off. I don't perform for the people who don't like me, I perform for the people who want me to be onstage, so those are the people that I try to worry about.

The biggest offender is the seasonal "Idol"-hating website "VoteForTheWorst.com," which encourages "Idol" dissenters to call in and vote for the so-called season's worst performer to remain on the show. Sanjaya Malakar was the website's golden ticket, but Tim Urban remained as the website's so called "worst" for weeks.

"I really have no comment about that website. I'm not excited that I was on their website," he said. "I think that it's really not anything that anybody should be proud of. I really didn't like being on there, and basically I was working my hardest to get off of it. Yes, I'm actually kind of sad that I was on that website at all."

But even with all the criticisms he faced on the stage and off, Urban is positive on his outlook of the future, and is looking forward to the possibilities that "Idol" will offer him.

"It's been such an insane run," he said. "It's been a crazy, awesome ride, and I'm really excited about the tour and everything that happens afterwards. I'm just waiting to see."