Big Picture
Miley Cyrus Grabs Lunch Plus, Daniel Radcliffe works his magic and Bruce Jenner blasts to the past. Get the latest pics!
MORE PHOTOS +Most Commented
- TV's Top Couples Tournament: Vote in the Final Round! (2036)
- TV's Top Couples Tournament: This Round Is Closed, Please Stand By (700)
- Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart Photos Galore! New Pics From Their Post-Twilight Flicks! (606)
- Afternoon Mail! Are Gleeks Having More Sex Than Vamps? (586)
- TV's Top Couple Tournament: And the Winner Is... (506)
- Beyoncé and Jay-Z Share First Photos of Baby Blue Ivy! (400)
- Whitney Houston Dead at 48 (397)
- Twitter Name Change: Introducing @Ted_Casablanca (334)
- Life After Breaking Dawn?! Maybe, Says Studio Head! (226)
- Morning Mail! Céline Dion Talks Whitney Houston's Tragic Death (223)
Top 10 Stories
- Nick Cannon Reveals Latest Health Scare: Blood Clots and Heart Trouble!
- American Idol: Who Crapped Out in Las Vegas? Did the Britney Spears Look-Alike Hit the Jackpot?
- Project Runway All Stars: Who Didn't Have a Prayer With Godspell?
- Whitney Houston's Funeral: "Totally Opposite" of Michael Jackson's
- Oscar Winner Marcia Gay Harden Files for Divorce
- Matt Bomer Comes Out as Gay: "So Proud of Him," Says White Collar Costar
- So True? So False? Is Jessica Simpson Really Going on The Biggest Loser?!
- Kids' Choice Nominations Are In: Harry Potter, Tim Tebow, Taylor Swift and More Score Nods
- Teen Mom's Amber Portwood Headed to Halfway House Drug Program
- Did Stephen Colbert Shut Down Report Due to Mother's "Serious Illness"?
Fashion Police
Our Partners
UPDATE!
American Idol Scandal! Pacitti Disqualified, Barton Back In
Joanna Pacitti can't catch a break. Literally.
After making it through last night to American Idol's round of 36, the 23-year-old aspiring popster was sent packing this morning, disqualified because of her previous professional experience—and an apparently cozy relationship with 19 Television, the company that produces the hit Fox reality competition.
"It has been determined that Joanna Pacitti is ineligible to continue in the competition. American Idol contestant Felicia Barton has replaced Ms. Pacitti as part of the top 36," reads an editor's note in a Fox press release from early this morning.
Barton, a 26-year-old married mother, was shown getting the boot during last night's "green-mile episode" in which contestants participated in a "sing-off" in the hopes of being a semifinalist.
Pacitti, 23, made the cut.
However, the singer wasn't exactly the amateur she claimed to be, in violation of Idol's rules. And, perhaps worse, reports surfaced in recent days that she was extremely close to show producers.
John M. Heller/Getty Images, Fox
For one, Pacitti had signed to A&M Records when she was 16, released a single, "Let It Slide," and some of her songs were even featured in the soundtracks to such movies as Legally Blonde, Bratz and First Daughter.
Of course, there have been other contestants who had lots of pro experience, notably last year's finalist Carly Smithson, who released the album Ultimate High on MCA Records in 2001.
But there was more to Pacitti's backstory than modest musical success.
There was, according to Star magazine, what appeared to be a serious conflict of interest. Pacitti reportedly resided in the same apartment building as 19 executives Roger Widynowski and Michelle Young and even once called Widynowski her "best friend."
Hoping to stanch the controversy, producers opted to bring back Barton, who was eliminated with a definitive "no" by the judging panel but deemed the most deserving of the 86'd contestants.
While Pacitti could not be reached for comment and the network declined to elaborate on its statement, a person close to the production told E! News that the decision was made to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
(Originally published Feb. 12, 2009 at 8:03 a.m. PT.)
80 Comments
-
Show the next 1 - 0 of 80 comments
Now loading...