Is American Idol Too Mean?

If you're one of the fortunate ones who didn't watch American Idol last night, (I had to..it's a long story) then you wouldn't know what all the fuss is about today.  So let me tell you.  On last night's episode, AI was auditioning in Seattle..and it was pretty bad.  Most of the singers sucked and the people looked a bit odd, granted.  But there were two lovely guys, one of them a bit odd looking, but really nice, and the other a pudgy little thing that was so cute who really wanted to make it.  They were both serious about entering (not hired actors) and thought they had a chance.  I felt so bad for them after the comments Simon made, because they really believed they had the AI factor.   I almost cried when the pudgy one (with a lisp) started crying after he didn't get a gold ticket.  And Simon called one of them "a creature that lives in the jungle, a bush baby".

This morning on The View, Rosie O'Donnell blasted the show and Paula Abdul for laughing at the expense of others. What do you think? Should this be expected on a show like this or does this type of ridicule cross the  line?