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Why did Sofia Vergara boo Howie Mandel? 'AGT' judge snaps at co-star for taking 'swipe' at Golden Buzzer winning act Mzansi Youth Choir

Howie Mandel was booed by Sofia Vergara during 'AGT' Season 18 live finale show, and the live crowd joined in to jeer the judge

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA: During the Season 18 finals of 'America's Got Talent', Howie Mandel informed the Mzansi Youth Choir that he loved them but that their performance on September 26 wasn't his favorite yet. Sofia Vergara was the first to boo Howie and later, the live crowd quickly followed suit.

Mzansi Youth Choir was the first of five Golden Buzzer acts to perform and they were the first act to collect the award directly from the crowd.

For their last song, they composed a choir arrangement of Coldplay and BTS's 'My Universe'.

Sofia said it was "the perfect song" choice since Heidi Klum was on her feet for the group because of how much enjoyment they brought to the competition.

Simon Cowell believed they're doing a great job representing their nation and tapping into the melody, while Howie labeled them one of his "favorite choirs in AGT history," despite not being his favorite of their three performances.

The live audience joined in to boo Howie after Sofia was the first to do so. Howie told Sofia, "What a great cheerleader you are."

On X, viewers at home also slammed the judge. One person asked, "Why you hating on them then." Another questioned, "What is Howie on tonight."

One viewer said, "Tell Howie to go soak his head. He has no idea what he's talking about.@terrycrews." Another social media user noted, " Howie is being a curmudgeon tonight."

On Reddit, one viewer of the show quipped, "You could make a drinking game out of Howie being booed for being right."

While another thought, "Well Howie obviously wants Avantgardey and Murmuration top 2 so are you shocked? Needs to knock the other group dynamic. Also Took a little swipe at Mzansi too."

One viewer wrote, "Howie is just trying to tank other acts so his golden buzzer looks better in comparison."

Where is 'AGT' Season 18 finale act Mzansi Youth Choir from?

Mzansi Youth Choir is a performance choir that exemplifies Sowetan excellence. The Mzansi Youth Choir was founded with the goal of providing talented, impoverished teens and young adults with the chance to sing professionally, both locally and internationally.

Mzansi is a township slang name for South Africa that means "south" in isiZulu. The choir's repertoire includes an interesting mix of South African music with elements of traditional music, pop, and jazz.

How much does Howie Mandel earn from 'AGT'?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Howie, a long-time 'AGT' judge, makes roughly $70,000 every episode, making him the show's lowest-earning judge.

How much does Sofia Vergara earn from 'AGT'?

Sofia earned $10 million every season on 'AGT', as of October 2020, according to Forbes. It's unknown whether she's received a raise since then.

Based on the $10 million she supposedly makes every season of 'AGT', Sofia makes around $400,000 per episode for a 25-episode season.

'America's Got Talent' Season 18 will air finale result on September 26, 2023, at 9 pm ET on NBC