Johannesburg - Idols 8 winner Khaya Mthethwa may be grateful to his fans for voting for him, but he's not okay with them booing his runner-up, Melissa Allison.
Khaya and Melissa both performed during the 90-minute Idols finale that took place in Fairlands, Johannesburg on Tuesday.
While the audience made their love for Khaya known with screams of adoration, they also expressed their distaste for finalist Melissa.
As Melissa arrived on stage to prepare for her performance of Rihanna's Where Have You Been, the crowd booed loudly in front of the 23-year-old singer.
'I appreciate her'
Khaya expressed his love for his fellow Idols 8 finalist during a press conference after he was announced the winner.
He said: "I just want to congratulate Melissa on making it this far.
"She's a friend of mine, I appreciate her, I love her and if I'd heard [the booing], I would have been one of the people saying 'that's not right'."
Khaya also expressed an interest in recording a duet with Melissa.
When asked whether a recording contract had been offered to Melissa as well, Universal Music's Lindelani Mkhize simply said: "Tonight is about the winner."
As runner-up Melissa won R100 000 while Khaya won a host of prizes including R500 000, a car and a waverunner.
Watch Khaya's performance as the new Idols winner here:
Have your say on the result - how do you feel about Khaya winning Idols season 8? E-mail your thoughts and reviews of the show to tv@channel24.co.za and you could be published.
Khaya and Melissa both performed during the 90-minute Idols finale that took place in Fairlands, Johannesburg on Tuesday.
While the audience made their love for Khaya known with screams of adoration, they also expressed their distaste for finalist Melissa.
As Melissa arrived on stage to prepare for her performance of Rihanna's Where Have You Been, the crowd booed loudly in front of the 23-year-old singer.
'I appreciate her'
Khaya expressed his love for his fellow Idols 8 finalist during a press conference after he was announced the winner.
He said: "I just want to congratulate Melissa on making it this far.
"She's a friend of mine, I appreciate her, I love her and if I'd heard [the booing], I would have been one of the people saying 'that's not right'."
Khaya also expressed an interest in recording a duet with Melissa.
When asked whether a recording contract had been offered to Melissa as well, Universal Music's Lindelani Mkhize simply said: "Tonight is about the winner."
As runner-up Melissa won R100 000 while Khaya won a host of prizes including R500 000, a car and a waverunner.
Watch Khaya's performance as the new Idols winner here:
Have your say on the result - how do you feel about Khaya winning Idols season 8? E-mail your thoughts and reviews of the show to tv@channel24.co.za and you could be published.