'AGT' Season 18 judges slammed for turning down singer Dev the Devil, fans say 'he wasn't even bad'
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA: After a brief hiatus last week for a special episode of 'America's Got Talent,' in which judge Simon Cowell and host Terry Crews discussed Simon's 16 most memorable auditions, the show returned to regular programming on August 1. Fifteen artists approached the stage in the hopes of obtaining a 'yes' from Simon, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Sofia Vergara, so they could advance to the next round of the competition. This week's 'AGT' performances included a former rodeo queen/country singer, a singing dog, cat, and horse, an aerialist with the most motivating desire, a band that blew the judges' socks off, and a comedic trio that wanted to unveil their true selves to the judges. Dev, a vocalist who appeared as the Devil in Season 14 of 'Britain's Got Talent,' also made a return.
The judges and fans of 'AGT' were taken aback on Tuesday night's broadcast when the devil himself appeared on stage. The apprehensive gathering was welcomed by a performer costumed as the scary Devil, complete with red body paint, horns, and prosthetics on his face.
View this post on Instagram
Dev the Devil was booed by the in-house audience
Dev was decked out in devilish garb. The audience began to jeer him as soon as he entered the stage. He has a fantastic voice and sang 'I Would Do Anything for Love'. But the crowd booed him right up until the bitter end. Dev competed on 'BGT' in Season 14 (2020), shocking the judges and audience with a rendition of Queen's 'I Want to Break Free' in an angelic rock voice. He was successful in the audition but was not given a spot in the semi-finals. Simon and Sofia were quick to decline. The Devil is therefore denied.
'The devil has a great singing voice'
Fans took to Twitter when the judges rejected a musician costumed as Satan, saying they didn't mind his singing. One person tweeted, "I don't think people should boo a guy because he's dressed as a devil." Another person noted, "If he would have just come out and done an audition, without the devil thing, he probably would have gotten through." Others sighed, "The devil wasn't even bad wtf." A fourth fan tweeted, "The audience is of course booing the devil but the devil has a great singing voice."
I don't think people should boo a guy because he's dressed as a devil#AGT
— Amanda Parsons (M.ED) (@Amanda_Parsons) August 2, 2023
If he would have just come out and done an audition, without the devil thing, he probably would have gotten through.#AGT
— jax ☘️ (@jaxbra) August 2, 2023
The audience is of course booing the devil but the devil has a great singing voice #AGT
— Chanel Cook (@ccgamergirl94) August 2, 2023
A fan also tweeted, "Umm...he's not actually that bad of a singer?" One also remarked, "Satans Got Talent?" Another fan wrote, "I already like Dev." Others tweeted, "WAIT he’s a great singer and now you’re booing him ????"
Umm...he's not actually that bad of a singer? #AGT
— Patrick Sheridan (@Patriot_Pat1) August 2, 2023
WAIT he’s a great singer and now you’re booing him ????
— Taylor’s Live-Tweet Account! • #WGAStrong (@tayquack_LT) August 2, 2023
[#AGT] https://t.co/mvsXFacXyG
'America's Got Talent' Season 18 airs every Tuesday on NBC at 8 PM ET.