Mystery surrounds American Idol with the revelation that a contestant seen winning a trip to Hollywood this week had actually been disinvited last week . On Tuesday night's San Antonio auditions, we saw Akron Watson win a golden ticket to move on to the next round (he was the guy who showed up with his cousin, who, in a hilarious display, faked outrage after he was rejected). Camera crews even followed him home to Dallas for one of their mini-profiles. But hours before the show aired, it was reported that Akron had been kicked out of the competition.

Though there was no mention on Idol, Akron told his local Dallas Pegasus News (good story-- check it out here) that he got the word last week:

"I was supposed to leave that Monday, they called me on a Thursday. They said we're not gonna let you go. And I asked 'why?' And he said 'Well I'm not really sure'... and then he gave me some alternatives for what I should say to people if they asked why I was kicked off ... He told me to tell people that I was now an alternate ... That would protect (me) and protect the show."

Akron had been charged with a misdemeanor in 2003 for having marijuana in his car. But he claims producers knew about it in advance-- and also knew about his "reconnection to the Christian faith."