Who is Tape Face? New Zealand comic and 'AGT' finalist branded 'fraud' over doppelganger stand-in
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Sam Wills who goes by the stage names The Boy With Tape On His Face and, more lately, Tape Face is a prop comic, busker, clown, and mime artist from New Zealand who now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. When 'America's Got Talent: Fantasy League' contestant, Sam is on tour, his lookalike T2 takes his place at Harrah's Las Vegas' House of Tape Theater, causing uproar among fans.
Fans of Tape Face have accused him of "duping" them by having an "imposter" perform in his place during his 2019 Las Vegas event.
Audiences who paid up to £82 ($105) a ticket in 2019 expected Sam to perform his inventive act that made such ripples on 'America's Got Talent' three years ago. However, several shows at Harrah's have been performed by an unannounced understudy.
Sam defended himself against claims that he was "defrauding" followers, claiming that Tape Face was always intended to be a character that could be portrayed by other skilled performers.
He told Chortle that it was always his plan to have numerous Tape Faces playing in different places at the same time, much like the Blue Man Group.
The goal of conducting several performances at the same time was realized in the autumn of 2019, when Sam toured the UK, leaving his doppelgänger, nicknamed T2, to hold down the fort in Vegas. However, Hannah's website, Ticketmaster, and the official Tape Face website, all of which included an image of Sam, made no clear mention of this fact.
The program was billed as "as seen on America's Got Talent" and with the dubious statement: "Tape Face is the creation of New Zealand comedian Sam Wills, and he’s created a killer cast for you nightly at The House of Tape."
Tape Face is played by someone who wears the same unique outfit and make-up as the original, and Sam has trained them to execute the exact same trick. However, some fans have already flocked to Trip Advisor to say that they did not witness the act they expected.
In a review titled "An impersonator....really?!?", one audience member claimed, "I just spent $600 to watch a person dress up and pretend to be Tape Face!" and accused the show's creators of "false advertisement."
They stated that after-show photos with the understudy were not permitted because "of course not, because the hoax would spread like wildfire and people would stop going … when I brought it to the attention of the box office people I was told to fill out a comment card and that they couldn’t offer any type of refund because, and I quote 'you already watched the show.'"
Shannon Bentham of Shiny Apple Public Relations, Tape Face's US publicist, reacted to this issue, saying, "Ideas and concepts can last a lot longer than people. Tape Face is a concept based on spreading joy and happiness. We want the Tape Face experience to exist loudly around the world. The character is played by different performers, comparable to other productions such Blue Man Group. Thanks for visiting House of Tape."
Sam admitted to Chortle that more might have been done to notify fans that they would be booking tickets to see T2.
Journalist Alex Belfield first brought attention to the scandal involving Tape Face's understudy, and the two have exchanged furious X messages over it.
After months of hard work, training and tape I can now personally guarantee the show quality of T2 is 100% Tape Face approved. T2 is getting standing ovations, sold out crowds and amazing reviews. #beyondhappy #tapeface #TFVegas pic.twitter.com/bF28L7HvFc
— Tape Face (@TapeFaceBoy) March 24, 2019
What kind of show does Tape Face perform?
Tape Face is from Canterbury, New Zealand, and his true name is Sam. Sam began his performing career as a busker in Christchurch, where he received the Press People's Choice Award at the World Buskers Festival in 2008. He utilized the prize money to create his blockbuster hit show, The Boy with Tape on His Face, which sold out worldwide and received dozens of five-star reviews.
Sam has played to sold-out audiences in British theaters, including the Edinburgh Fringe, and the Royal Albert Hall. When Wills brings his silent comic concerts to Christchurch for the World Buskers Festival, they invariably sell out.
Sam got his first chance when former World Buskers' event director Jodi Wright chose him for her event.
Tape Face has produced a one-of-a-kind show by using simple, intelligent, and attractive comedy to satiate that appetite. Tape Face must be seen to be believed: mime with noise, stand-up with no talking, and drama with no acting.
So, what precisely does he do? Simply discussing any facet of this varied program would be a disservice; the less you know about it, the more you will love it.
Tape Face aspires to be entertaining, witty, multi-layered, and amusing while transcending linguistic and cultural barriers.
Is 'AGT' Season 11 finalist Tape Face married?
Sam is married to Felicity Wills. Felicity, also known as Lili La Scala, met her husband during a Christchurch festival, and they married there in 2008.
According to Stuff NZ, they married a year later in a "symbolic wedding" in 2009. The pair later made it official in a formal ceremony.
Rafferty Basil Danger Wills, the couple's first child, was born in 2013.
Felicity's maiden name is Redman, and she met her husband while working as a burlesque dancer, which she still does today.
'AGT' Season 11 finalist Tape Face joins Mel B's team on 'Fantasy League'
Tape Face was a mime from 'AGT' Season 11. He came in fifth out of the Top 10.
Tape Face made an appearance on 'America's Got Talent: The Champions'. He was ousted in the preliminary round and finished the night tied for third place.
As per online rumors, he will appear on Mel B's team in 'AGT: Fantasy League' once more.
Watch 'America's Got Talent: Fantasy League' on NBC Mondays at 8/7c starting Monday, January 1, 2024, and stream on Peacock the following day.