'America's Got Talent' Season 15: Brandon Leake's 'powerful' letter to an absent father leaves fans in tears
'America's Got Talent' Season 15 has given viewers several new memorable acts to follow. But none have left audiences speechless and in tears after every single act quite like spoken word poet Brandon Leake has. For his semifinals performance, Leake delivered a series of letters from a son to his absent father, with each letter demonstrating the various ways such an experience might impact a young boy and how other life experiences might reshape this same boy into a very different adult — one who finds it in himself to forgive his father and invite him back into his life.
Leake managed to deliver a more powerful performance with each round, and for many, he outdid himself this time. "Once again, This is by far the best performance ever by Brandon Leake," tweeted one fan. Many also commended Leake for always choosing themes that are timely and relevant for what many are going through right now. One person shared, "Brandon Leake is the poet we all need right now." Another said, "Holy sh*t poor Brandon it hurts because I feel a connection to it, my fathers been around but I understand the 'earn your love' part... and that is one of the most painful things in this world."
Once again, This is by far the best performance ever by brandon leake #AGT. pic.twitter.com/AUzyXPTsu6
— Nicholas_Sye (@NicholasSye1) September 9, 2020
Brandon Leake is the poet we all need right now. #AGT
— Paul Onufrey (@onufreyonboard) September 9, 2020
#AGT holy shit poor brandon
— Ryein (@fryhime) September 9, 2020
it hurts because i feel a connection to it, my fathers been around but i understand the ‘earn your love’ part... and that is one of the most painful things in this world
And as always, Leake had many viewers in tears. "Brandon is making me cry," stated one. Others noted that Leake's performance reminded them of Will Smith's stunning delivery of a dialogue about his character's absent father on the show, 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'. One tweet read, "Oh man... I’m getting vibes from that infamous Fresh Prince episode..." A user shared, "OOOF! Wow. The poem itself packed a punch, but hearing this was his dad's first time watching him perform was the KO," while another noted, "I forgot there wasn't a live audience, I was like it's so quiet you can hear a pin drop. That was powerful."
Oh man... I’m getting vibes from that infamous Fresh Prince episode... #AGT
— Nick Mathur (@NickMathur8) September 9, 2020
OOOF! Wow. The poem itself packed a punch, but hearing this was his dad's first time watching him perform was the KO. #AGT
— Dayanara Ryelle 虎 (@DayaRyelle) September 9, 2020
I forgot there wasn't a live audience, I was like it's so quiet you can hear a pin drop. That was powerful. #AGT
— Michelle Witzki (@istolethecatspj) September 9, 2020
Leake has already earned winning predictions, with many convinced he's here to take the grand prize. "@howiemandel I think Brandon won the whole thing tbh," read one tweet while another user stated, "@Called_To_Move is our winner this season you heard it here first.
@howiemandel I think Brandon won the whole thing tbh. #AGT
— BIGGEST FANDEL (@BiggestFandel) September 9, 2020
@Called_To_Move is our winner this season you heard it here first #agt
— Wyatt (@Wyatt_fann) September 9, 2020
Some, however, disagreed with this assessment, questioning whether Leake's spoken word act was deserving of a spot in Las Vegas. "Brandon Leake is not a million-dollar act," read one tweet. Another said, "We all have 'daddy issues'....this is *NOT* a million-dollar act. Its a coffee shop/poetry slam act."
@agt we all have 'daddy issues'....this is *NOT* a million dollar act. Its a coffee shop/poetry slam act. #agt
— Lisa Neufeld (@Ezriela) September 9, 2020