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'The Voice' Season 25 fans claim John Legend ruined his chance to win the NBC show after sending Mafe home

'Justice for Mafe' trends following sudden elimination, 'The Voice' fans blame John Legend

UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA: On Monday, April 22, Season 25 of 'The Voice' debuted the Playoffs, pitting the teams of John Legend and Dan + Shay against each other to select three artists from their respective teams, out of the five still competing, to advance to the Live Shows.

The artists on Team Legend worked with guest mentor Latin Grammy Award winner Maluma, while Team Dan + Shay was coached by multi-platinum rapper/singer Saweetie. However, the decision of who would advance to the Live Shows rested solely with the individual coaches, placing them under pressure, especially when their favorite artists faced elimination.

"I am looking for artists who make memorable moments on this stage," John Legend said. "When they stand in their gifts and their power and give us something to remember, that’s who’s going to the Lives."

When it came to selecting who to invite to the live events, John opted for Nathan Chester, Zoe Levert, and Bryan Olesen, which meant that fan favorite Mafe had to go home.

Disappointed fans took to X to express their frustration. One wrote, "Mafe being sent home..... arthur legend im under your bed tonight." Another irritated fan wrote, "How is Mafe not moving on? She could be in the Finale?!! WTF." 

Addressing John directly, one fan said, "MAFE SANG THAT ADELE SONG PERFECTLY #TheVoice #JusticeForMafe what the heck @johnlegend @NBCTheVoice." One fan wrote, "Mafe could’ve won the whole thing. John picked wrong."

Another fan wrote, "@johnlegend…..are you serious right now???? You did not pick #Mafe??? #TheVoice #Thatismessedup #riot." Others believed, "I really thought that John would've picked Mafe."

'The Voice's Spanish singer Mafe elated to meet mentor Maluma 

Mafe's encounter with Maluma was significant, especially considering her status as the competition's Spanish-language singer. She expressed that it "felt right" to meet him. Maluma was thrilled with her rendition of "Someone Like You" and commended her for the effort she put into establishing herself as a celebrity in a new country.

'The Voice's John Legend defends Mafe against Shay Mooney's criticism

After her performance, Reba McEntire told Mafe that she "absolutely loved it" and let her "voice do the convincing." Chance the Rapper thought she made "really cool choices," but Shay Mooney believed "all the liberties" she took with a popular song were "too much."

John disagreed with Shay, describing her "melodic liberties" as "tasteful."

Who is Mafe on 'The Voice' Season 25?

Mafe grew up in a musical household and took part in exciting family vacations while growing up in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Her family later relocated to Margarita Island, but she was unable to pursue it due to limited opportunities in her new location.

In 2017, the family made the momentous decision to move to Miami. Adjusting to a new life in the United States proved challenging for Mafe and her family. However, enrolling in a singing class not only provided her with a sense of community but also helped her overcome language barriers.

Mafe took a year off after earning an AA in jazz and music performance to figure out her next move in the music industry. She presently works two jobs to save money for her music recording. In her spare time, she likes to prepare traditional Venezuelan meals with her mother.

'The Voice' Season 25 airs on NBC at 8 pm on Mondays and 9 pm on Tuesdays. The episodes will be available on Peacock on demand the next day. The streaming site also includes entire episodes from the show's prior seasons.