The tipster from this morning's Clay Aiken item – where we learned American Idol forbade reporters from asking Aiken about his gay sex scandal during the finale – noted the grammar in the official memo to journos: "The interesting thing is that the directive says IF Clay appears, so it seems like his appearance may still be in question."

Now TMZ is reporting, in addition to the estrogen-fest about to hit the stage tonight, that Clay Aiken is scheduled to perform. So let's watch entertainment journalism at its best, where publicists are gods and reporters might as well be merely Moses delivering the sterilized gospel.

'Idol' Finale Performances Revealed [TMZ]
Earlier: 'American Idol' to Journos: When It Comes To Clay Aiken, Don't Ask, Don't Tell