TAMPA (CBS Tampa) - Former “American Idol” contestant Clay Aiken and country singer John Rich are involved in a Twitter debate after Aiken posted a comment alluding to a dearth in African-American attendees at the Republican National Convention.

The debate began Tuesday night, when Aiken posted a jocular tweet about the RNC.

“Playing drinking game with my brother now,” he wrote. “We drink every time we see a black person on screen at the RNC convention. #soberasamormon”

Rich quickly took to his own account, writing multiple responses to Aiken’s barb.

“CLAY! You should be ashamed for racist comments like THAT! WOW,” read the first reply.

He soon added, “I wonder how long it will be till [sic] @clayaiken takes that idiotic post down. Clay, you’re better than that…I hope. Sincerely, JR.”

After interacting with several followers on the matter, he made one final comment to Aiken directly.

“And to finish it off, @clayaiken hashtags soberasamormon?” he said. “I thought your charity was for inclusion, not EXCLUSION. What happened?”

Eventually Aiken did reply – with another jab at Republicans.

“My charity is,” he said. “Why isn’t your party?”

Rich further expressed his disdain for those alluding to racism at the RNC, and for people who made use of the hashtag “negrospotting” while talking about the demographics of those in attendance at the convention.