At some point the contestants must sign a legal document to verify their eligibility. Maybe she thought her connections would protect her rather than disqualify her.
I have to agree with misterrob. She knew exactly what she was doing and so did her managers who are connected to AI. Some one found a quote of her bashing AI when her album came out in 2006. Something like she didn’t think that it was fair that AI contestants didn’t have to pay their dues in the business.
They thought they could slip it by the viewers. The powers that be consistently under estimate the googling ability of the people.
As soon as she walked into the audition room Kara blurted out, “I know you! You were on A&M!” Because of the controversy last year with Carly Smithson being connected to 19 Ent., they thought they could defuse the situation by acknowledging it from the get-go.
I’m just glad she’s gone and someone closer to an actual amateur can get a chance.