" American Idol [ tickets ]" contestant Joanne Pacitti has been disqualified from the show after making it to the Top 36, Fox television announced. She was official ruled "ineligible to continue," but no reason was given, according to reports.

Speculation about her exodus centers around her previous recording experience and current friendship with executives from the show. She had a record deal with Geffen, released an album in 2006 and sang on the soundtracks for the movies "Legally Blonde" and "Bratz." Pacitti also had a "private relationship with executives of 19 management, one of the companies that oversees the show," People magazine reported.