"American Idol" Joanna Pacitti disqualified · 2009-02-13 17:23
Early judges favorite Joanna Pacitti has been removed from the competition even though Wednesday night's episode showed her advance through the semifinals of "American Idol" despite fumbling the lyrics of all three songs during Hollywood Week.
"It has been determined that Joanna Pacitti is ineligible to continue in the competition," Fox's Wednesday night press release announcing the semifinalists said.
Pacitti was an early target of outrage among "Idol" fans, who complained that she didn't fit within the amateur singing competition status of the show with previous record label deal, an album and music videos ??“ a throwback to Season 7's Carly Smithson who made it to the top six last year.
But sources said it was ultimately Pacitti's recently revealed friendship with executives from Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment, which co-produces "Idol," that got her the boot after she failed to disclose it, Holywood Reporter informs.
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