Joanna Pacitti
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Earlier this week, Joanna Pacitti was disqualified from the round of 36 on American Idol.

The show cited the singer's connections to executives at the record label associated it. Was the decision to cut Pacitti a fair one?

Here's what a few past finalists have to say about it:

Season 2 champion Ruben Studdard: "This opportunity wasn't for her. Maybe God has something else for her."

Season 1 runner-up Justin Guarini: "I believe in second chances. I don't think I'd be here without a second chance, and probably a third or fourth chance. Everyone needs to be held up to the same standards on American Idol... Unfortunately, she was disqualified from the show, but I think the exposure is going to be huge for her."

Season 6's Chris Sligh: "I think a lot of contestants don't actually read the contracts that they give you. I actually read every word of it so I knew that I couldn't have a record deal, which I didn't have, I couldn't have a publishing deal...So if you're dumb enough to be that dumb, then oh well."

Season 7's Michael Johns: "One thing you cannot do is know people who work for Coke or Fox or 19 [Production Company] or anything like that. That's why I could never go on Wheel of Fortune: me and Pat Sajak go way back. It's never good to hear that she never got a chance."

Do you think the Joanna Pacitti disqualification was fair?

Is it fair for Joanna Pacitti to be a contestant on American Idol?

Many critics point to this singer's brief Broadway career, along with her previously-released album through A&M records, as proof that she's overqualified for the show.

Kara DioGuardi is not included in this camp, however.

"I do think [her inclusion on the show] is fair because she's facing, actually, the same challenges and in some ways more challenges than some of the other contestants," DioGuardi told Access Hollywood. "She's been dropped from a record label, which psychologically puts you in a weird place, right?

"That's why I think she's so emotional on the show... She knows what it's like to actually get a deal and then be dropped, which is actually a terrible thing."