“I’ve been abused!” Mandel reacts to the buzzer drama.
America’s Got Talent took a dramatic turn on Tuesday night when judge Simon Cowell attempted to steal fellow judge Howie Mandel’s Golden Buzzer. The moment unfolded after the Japanese dance and acrobatics group Airfootworks delivered a stunning performance. As host Terry Crews asked for feedback, Cowell made an unexpected move, saying, “I am just about to get myself fired,” before reaching for the coveted Golden Buzzer.
The catch? It wasn’t Cowell’s buzzer to give. Each judge—Mandel, Cowell, Sofia Vergara, and Heidi Klum—is allotted only one Golden Buzzer during this round of competition, and this week was Mandel’s turn.
“I feel like I’ve been abused!” Mandel exclaimed, reacting to Cowell’s bold move. Fortunately, Crews pointed out that Mandel had just beaten Cowell to the punch, securing the buzzer for Airfootworks.
Mandel explained that he chose to support the group due to their impressive athleticism and creativity. Meanwhile, Cowell sheepishly admitted, “I just couldn’t help myself!”
This season, Cowell has already pushed the boundaries by introducing more buzzers than ever before. In season 19, he famously hit two buzzers in one night, leading to a rule change allowing each judge a second buzzer.
The night featured a range of acts, including daredevil ballerina Ashlee Montague, heavy-metal guitarist Nini, and the drone act Sky Elements. Meanwhile, Schumacher, who famously disguised themselves as a giraffe during auditions, returned in new animal costumes, much to Vergara’s delight. Although Cowell gave them an “X,” Vergara praised them, saying, “I would give you another Golden Buzzer if I could, but I don’t have one!”
As the competition heats up, viewers can cast their votes via the AGT app or website. The top three vote-getters from the live show will advance to the semifinals, with the final round scheduled for September 17th and a new champion to be crowned on September 24th.