The inclusion of Joanna Pacitti in this year’s season of American Idol raised a lot of eyebrows. She already had two record deals, had sung on major soundtracks, and had a quick stint on Broadway at age 12. On last night’s episode, it showed her progressing to the top 36, but turns out she has since been disqualified.

“It has been determined that Joanna Pacitti is ineligible to continue in the competition,” the network stated in a late Wednesday night�announcement released�shortly after the conclusion of the West Coast broadcast of American Idol’s pre-filmed “Final Judgement” episode in which Pacitti�was shown advancing into the competition’s semifinals.

Felicia Barton, a 26-year-old wife and mother from Virginia Beach, VA, will replace Pacitti in the season’s Top 36 semifinals.

Though Fox hasn’t specified why they let her go, Star has their own theory.

According to Star, Pacitti has “very personal connections” to Michelle Young and Roger Widynowski, two executives that work in 19 Entertainment’s Los Angeles office.� In addition to living in the same apartment complex as the 19 Entertainment executives for several years, Pacitti has also allegedly called Young her “manager” and “best friend” and credited Widynowski — a former RCA Records publicist — with “helping me get where I am today,” according to the tabloid.

Um, yeh… Dropping her was definitely a good idea if these things are true. Talk about bashing credibility.

[image: WENN]

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