Joanna Pacitti already has a semi-celebrity background behind her but she felt she needed a boost by auditioning for “American Idol” in season eight. Pacitti has starred on Broadway when she joined the cast for “Annie” when she was 11. Joanna Pacitti has also had a record deal with Geffen records. To top it off, Pacitti also dated a professional dancer, Mark Ballas, from “Dancing with the Stars.” As if this wasn’t enough to get her entertainment career going, Pacitti decided to audition for “American Idol,” resulting in controversy and heated debates about Idol rules.
While former “Idol” contenders have had record deals before auditioning for “American Idol,” such as Kristy Lee Cook and Carly Smithson, Joanna Pacitti’s entertainment career seems to be more established. Pacitti has even sung for “Legally Blonde” and sang “Out From Under” from the “Bratz” movie which Britney Spears did a cover of on her new CD, “Circus.”
Joanna Pacitti was praised by her fans when she auditioned during “American Idol” but the public expressed that Joanna Pacitti should be disqualified because of her Hollywood-exposed background compared to other contenders on the show who are only stepping out of their boxes for the first time. If Joanna Pacitti already has an established fan base, this may give her an unfair advantage if Pacitti goes through the next rounds in “American Idol.”
Some “Idol” watchers are suggesting that rules should not change. “American Idol” should only allow for un-famed talent because people like Joanna Pacitti are taking away spots for people who haven’t had a chance for fame in the entertainment world. “American Idol” is about revealing and promoting undiscovered talents, not people like Joanna Pacitti as some would say.