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?

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.