'American Idol' Star Insults Jackson Family Or Pepsi. Either Way: What Was He Thinking?

James Durbin is used to letting his mouth fly open as he wails through his American Idol numbers.

During one moment of his Wednesday night performance, however, he should have kept his trap shut.

Durbin’s performance of Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s All Right” included a flaming piano.

Durbin joked with Ryan Seacrest about the fire, and referenced the time when Michael Jackson’s hair caught on fire during a Pepsi commercial shoot in 1984.

"I have a lot of hairspray in my hair to keep it from jumping around  — so much so, the one thing I was worried about was having a 'Pepsi moment,'" Durbin said.

As TV Guide reports, Jackson’s family was upset by the comments, as the incident led to Jackson use of painkillers.

"We were shocked to see this," a spokesperson for the family told TMZ “It's nothing to make light of and everybody should be focusing on who was responsible for Michael's death."

Durbin’s Twitter response have been removed. TV Guide reports he said the following:

"For anyone talkin..I said pepsi NOT MJ! I have no disrespect for Michael," Durbin wrote. "I grew up singing his art. I guess youll take it how you want it..."

Durbin later added: "Talkin about MJs passing is too soon. Making a reference to an incident 25 years ago..not too soon. The stab was at pepsi people."

Do you think Durbin's remarks were wise? Even if he wasn’t insulting MJ and if it Coke is a sponsor of Idol, is it smart to slam on Pepsi?