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Who is Jeremias Williams? Fans want singer on 'The Voice' as he leaves 'American Idol' without golden ticket

Judges didn't think Jeremias from Apopka had enough 'smoke' to be on the show and sent him away without a golden ticket causing a lot of anger among fans

Jeremias Williams from Apopka grew up in situations far from ideal, but music encouraged him along with providing an escape from everything that was happening around him in his growing up years. With a dream to find his footing as a musician, he auditioned for 'American Idol' that aired on Sunday (February 28) night's episode. 

Growing up in adversity does affect people in more ways than one but Jeremias believed he was destined for better things. He never let his childhood affect him negatively and went on to pursue an education and was working full time and doing well for himself and his family. His story touched the hearts of the audiences and when he didn't make it out of the audition room with a golden ticket in hand, a lot of them rallied behind him and slammed the judges for their decision. 

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Who is Jeremias Williams on 'American Idol'?

Firefighter Jeremias, 23, from Apopka decided to audition for 'Idol' after Apopka Fire Lieutenant Jerry Maynard heard him sing at the fire station and for years tried to get him to audition. “He said, ‘You need to do something.’ And every time I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m not good. I don’t think I can even make the cut, let alone make it. He was like, ‘I believe in you and you can do it, you can do it.’ And so years passed, I didn’t do it. He kind of coerced me into doing this in previous years, so I did it," Jeremias said about Maynard in an interview. 

Jeremias sang 'Simple Man' by Lynrd Skynrd for the auditions. "You are so pure and it's so beautiful. I think it's missing that smoke. It's like a person missing it's shadow. You gotta find it, a little bit more. If you find it, its going to be so much more powerful," Katy Perry said. Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie too said a no to him but sent him away saying they would like to see him return to the competition next year with what they've been looking for. 

Their decision didn't sit well with the audiences watching from home. Another contestant Christian McGuckian from Easley South Carolina had performed before him and she was sent with a golden ticket even though the judges agreed she wasn't quite there yet with her singing. She was given another chance to perform her audition song but Jeremias wasn't meted out the same treatment and audiences immediately started to slam them. 

"Mias had an amazing story of overcoming great obstacles and could sing but it an no but passing people that can't even sing? it hard to say the game not rigged. #AmericanIdol," tweeted a fan. "Why are they giving other people 2nd chances but they didn't give Mias one #AmericanIdol," read another tweet. "Mias was robbed. His voice was great and so much potential. He was leaps and bounds ready for the competition over a few others that were sent through. SMH #AmericanIdol," another fan wrote. "Let's get Mias from Apopka on the Voice, maybe they like people who can sing #AmericanIdol," tweeted another.

"I cannot believe they pushed “girl crush” girl through, and not this beautiful Mias. What was that, #AmericanIdol," wrote another fan referring to McGuckian who sang 'Girl Crush' by Little Big Town for the auditions.

Catch new episodes of 'American Idol' Sundays at 8 pm ET on ABC.