Did Chris Rene Deserve to Place Third?

After placing third in X Factor Thursday night, Chris Rene said he was happy for winner Melanie Amaro, and ready to begin his own serious career. He hopes someone such as Drake, Jack Johnson or Kanye West will record the song Young Homie, which broke the ice on the show for him.

 “I said onstage, with my eyes, ‘good job, homie!’ “ he said of watching Amaro win, reported on the website, Wetpaint Entertainment.

“My feelings towards it are acceptance and happiness and joy.  You guys are all talking to me.  Look at this.  Everyone who knows my music and knows what I’m about, knows my story, I look at that and I go, the reason why I came here was to do myself, to be myself, and if people accept me for that, that’s beautiful and if they don’t, that’s beautiful.  More people have accepted me than I thought so that’s really beautiful,” he said backstage, as reported by Wetpaint Entertainment.

Reviews nationwide didn't question the decision, and in fact, gave the show high praise.

Melody Simpson, of the site Buzz Focus, said she thought Chris "butchered" his Christmas song, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

"...but the kid has heart and that is why he made it to the final three," she wrote.

"He may not be able to hold a tune like Amaro but he is a very talented song writer and will continue to inspire so many others struggling out there with that gift. Finishing in third place for the first season of The X Factor US was Chris Rene, just as it should have been but he has only just begun touching hearts everywhere."

Had he won the $5 million grand prize, Chris told On The Red Carpet.com that he would have spent the money on building a rehab center, as well as buying a car and a stable home for his family.

"Basically, the main first thing...to be, invest in a rehab," Rene said. "A place where people can go, people like me, people with certain addictions. Give them resources and a place where they can find themselves again and to decide if they want to change their life. I'd like to give them a place where they could do that."

Patch blogger took the loss in stride, despite the fact that he thought Rene deserved to win.

"I predict he'll outsell the other two," he said. "Chris' ability to emotionally connect musically and lyrically will secure him a place in the charts. He didn't need to win the X Factor to have a hit record –  his hit record will be coming soon enough."