By Laura Carreno
While she is mostly known for her work as an illustrator, Geneviève Côté has stirred up a row on social media after her appearance on Britain's Got Talent.
Hailing from Montreal, the new contestant, 60, wowed judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli and Simon Cowell on this Sunday's (April 21, 2024) instalment of the competition, the second of the 17th series, by sitting in front of a screen as footage from nature documentaries were shown to the audience. In a surprising twist, Geneviève created sound effects to match what was being broadcast behind her.
Judges were blown away by the performance as Geneviève accurately imitated multiple nature sounds, including several animal noises, allowing her to earn her spot in the next stage of the competition. Meanwhile, the illustrator caused a stir on X, formerly known as Twitter, with some calling her out for taking part in a UK TV show, despite being from Quebec, an ocean away.
"I’ll probably get called racist again but haven’t Canada got their own talent show", one person notably commented. But another reprimand was thrown Geneviève's way as a Google search allowed other viewers to find out she was well-known on her side of the pond, having participated in a recent season of Canada's Got Talent as one of Howie Mandel's acts.
To top it all off, she also appeared in France's Got Talent (where she earned ANOTHER Golden Buzzer) and the first season of America's Got Talent Fantasy League earlier this year - where Simon has taken on the role of judge. "Hate to break it to you Alesha but Geneviève has been on Canada’s Got Talent and America’s Got Talent. She’s doing the rounds!", one fan speculated.
Another shared their frustrations with Simon Cowell, who didn't seem to remember any of Geneviève's work: "Not Simon asking that lady who’s come over from Canada if she’s especially flown over here to be on Britain's Got Talent when you know she’s been on the Canada and American version and the producers brought her here though."
One viewer then pointed out: "she’s already been on canada’s got talent and got a golden buzzer for it there", just as another jumped in: "Quick Google she did Canada’s Got Talent and AGT: Fantasy. So Simon knows exactly who she is." A TV fan then bitterly concluded: "And another flown in specially to perform act. Got to the semi finals of Canada's got talent so quick fly her over for the #bgt version."
The latest series of Britain's Got Talent kicked off on our screens this Saturday, April 20, and has already earned the ire of numerous fans. During its first instalment, viewers swarmed over to Twitter to slam singer Sydnie Christmas, the first Golden Buzzer act of the season, after discovering she'd had a career on the West End despite telling judges she'd struggled to make it as a singer.
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