Did anyone think Chris Richardson seemed to be trying to get sympathy votes last night?

Did anyone else feel like Chris Richardson's last minute mention was a bit staged in hopes he might get some sympathy votes after the judges panned him? Also did anyone fell that Simon felt he got upstaged by Chris mentioning the tradgey first. It seemed wierd that Simon expressed his condolences during the critique of one of the next contestants. I don't think they really prepped anyone on the show about the ettiquette of dealing with the situation prior to the start of last nights show.