By Laura Carreno
Britain's Got Talent viewers were left frustrated after Innocent Masuku left his successful audition without a Golden Buzzer.
Tensions have emerged on X, formerly known as Twitter, this Sunday, April 21, when the South African operatic tenor walked on to the stage of the competition hoping to be given a chance with his rendition of Lucio Dalla's Casuro. The performance owed unanimous praise and the approval of judges for him to move on to the next stage.
However, ITV viewers were shocked when Innocent walked out without a free pass to the final, deeming his singing Golden Buzzer-worthy. Fans of the long-running program have shared their frustrations, perplexed by the situation as they slammed Sydnie Christmas \- the first Golden Buzzer act of the 17th series - and comments keep flooding in.
"How didn't he get a golden buzzer! This show is so backwards", one viewer fumed while a second fan added: "That was powerful! Should have been a golden buzzer!!!" More TV watchers joined the discussion, one penning: "He amazing still crying #BGT he deserves the golden buzzer." Another chimed in: "should’ve been a golden buzzer if we’re being honest."
One then lamented: "How “the best opera singer we’ve ever had” doesn’t get a golden buzzer, but Sidney Christmas, a trained professional who is already successful does… this is why #BGT is forever frustrating." Another echoed: "If anyone deserved a golden buzzer, it was him. Absolutely brilliant voice, finally a decent act."
But as judge Amanda Holden branded Innocent the "best opera singer" of the history of the competition after his audition, fans of "BGT" couldn't help but interpret her words a kick to the teeth of former contestant and Welsh tenor Paul Potts. One amused watcher remarked: "A smack in the face for Paul Potts from Amanda right there." And another quickly agreed: "Amanda throwing casual shade at Paul Potts there, "best opera singer they've ever had."
The 17th season of Britain's Got Talent kicked off on Saturday, April 20, with Amanda Holden gifting the first Golden Buzzer of the season to Sydnie Christmas who has had a hefty amount of experience on the West End. The revelation was enough to send viewers into a frenzy at the time but many of them will be surprised to know that Innocent has also had his fair share of success prior to his Britain's Got Talent audition.
A quick Google search will show that the Mpumalanga native is listed as a talent on the English National Opera's webpage. According to the website, the 34-year-old is an "ENO Harewood artist", having received a long series of accolades for his work in the likes of a Merit award in the 2019 SAMRO competition, a Drake Calleja trust award, a sponsorship by the Tillet Trust fund, the Oppenheimer International Scholarship and The Countess of Munster Musical Trust Study Award.
Innocent has most recently starred in Jonathan Miller's Barber of Seville as Count Almaviva at the London Coliseum and he has also quite a few roles under his belt, having appeared in other stage productions such as Carmen, The Dead City, The Yeomen of the Guard and Gloriana.
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