Simon Cowell has caused fury among ITV Britain’s Got Talent viewers after he sent 11-year-old guitarist Olly Pearson after the judge slammed down the golden buzzer during the live semi-final.
The young rocker made Britain’s Got Talent history by becoming the first contestant to receive two golden buzzers in a single season, having previously earned Amanda Holden’s golden buzzer during his audition in March.
Cowell pressed the buzzer immediately after Pearson’s performance on Saturday’s show, sending him straight through to the final of the ITV talent competition.
The youth wowed the judges and audience with a medley of rock classics, including AC/DC’s Thunderstruck, Guns And Roses’ Sweet Child O’ Mine and Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer.
His performance featured spectacular staging, with the young guitarist being lifted to the sky on a platform whilst his guitar shot out flames. The 11-year-old showcased his incredible guitar skills with backing dancers adding to the rock spectacle.
His performance was so impressive that Simon couldn’t wait to press the golden buzzer, doing so immediately after Pearson finished playing.
Speaking after sending the 11-year-old through, Cowell said: “He was bloody brilliant, seriously, and he’s so small and talented, and carries magic.”
“I probably went a little bit early, but I was so excited, and it was just so brilliant. You’re so talented, really,” he added.
The head judge pressed the buzzer before the judges’ comments, which is not the usual protocol.
“I went a little early, I’m sorry but I was so excited. You’re just so brilliant and talented. Really, really, really talented,” Simon reiterated.
Becoming visibly emotional after receiving the golden buzzer, a stunned Pearson described it as “the greatest golden buzzer of my life”.
The young guitarist also called being sent to the final “the coolest thing in my life”.
Amanda Holden was equally excited about Pearson’s success, joking that Cowell wasn’t “taking” the young performer away from her as she had pressed her golden buzzer for him first.
However, not all were joining in on the joyous scenes as viewers took to social media to complain the act didn’t measure up to the golden buzzer expectations.
“No way that deserved a golden buzzer,” one savaged simply while another wrote: “Absolutely not a golden buzzer @SimonCowell Oli was good but not golden buzzer material absolute waste #bgt.”
Viewers were divided on if the talented guitarist deserved the prestigious golden buzze
A third despaired: “Really Simon…. Really…. That’s who you give the golden buzzer to???? The previous act was a thousand times better…. #BGT #BritainsGotTalent.”
“Any good economist would say the golden buzzer is losing value how often it’s being used this series… people flying through on DOUBLES now?! #BGT #BritainsGotTalent,” a fourth fumed.
Others were far more positive, and spoke out in defence of Pearson and Cowell’s decision to put him through.
“Don’t be harsh to the kid. He is a little one and he has a unique talent Mozart was at his age when he played the piano Go prodigy #britainsgottalent #BGT,” one praised.
Another celebrated: “Well done Olly totally rocked your performance and congratulations on the golden buzzer you so deserved it, you rocked the place out.”
Thirty musicians and singers recently gathered in the streets of Paris for a flashmob performance of Queen’s iconic song “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
A video of the flashmob was posted on the YouTube channel of one of the performers, pianist Julien Cohen, on Tuesday (September 9th), and the clip has since gone viral, surpassing over 500,000 views in just one day.
The flashmob took place in a particularly busy intersection for foot traffic. With the presence of a drum kit, speakers, and a piano, onlookers might have been anticipating some kind of busker performance; unbeknownst to them, they were about to witness an epic public orchestration of the Queen classic.
Cohen appears to guide the performance from the piano, but it’s young UK guitar prodigy Olly Pearson who steals the show, shredding through Brian May’s guitar flourishes and solos. Elsewhere, singers are placed in the windows of apartments surrounding the street, providing the song’s iconic operatic vocals and call-and-response sections.
Overall, the production of the video and choreography of the flashmob is mighty impressive, and everything appears to go off without a hitch.
Check out the video of the flashmob performing “Bohemian Rhapsody” in Paris below.
