‘AGT’ Fans Defend Mel B. for Harsh Criticism of Teenage Singing Duo

Mel B. is not afraid to let America’s Got Talent contestants know when she isn’t impressed, and it happened twice during night two of the Season 21 Quarterfinals. She hit her red buzzer for performances from danger duo Brad & Tracy, as well as teenage singing brothers Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm.

After Nyjah and Zyah’s performance of “I Swear,” Mel B. told them, “I actually felt I did you a favor. I think you need a lot more time, a lot more experience, and at this point in the competition, this should be your best. I should be able to feel the hunger, the passion. It was just like you were taking a walk on Malibu beach without a care in the world. I didn’t see it.” She urged the guys to practice and come back with “more determination.”

The other judges agreed that Nyjah and Zyah had work to do, but Mel’s response was definitely the most blunt. And while she received major boos from the live audience for her take, many viewers at home agreed with what she said.

“I’ve never been the best mel B fan but i think she was absolutely in the right here. she has the right to buzz if it’s terrible, which is was,” someone wrote on Reddit, and a commenter replied, “They needed a harsh dose of reality and got it.”

Another person jumped in to add, “Show business is brutal. Better to be honest than give false hope. They were bad,” and someone else said, “Those boys should never have been put through to the live shows.”

One person suggested that Simon Cowell pushed Nyjah and Zyah through to the Live Shows after their Callback Round performance because Bruno Mars is their uncle, adding, “They just haven’t seemed at any point like they were ready to be on AGT.”

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One commenter on the thread felt Mel may have been a bit harsh, writing, “I don’t have an issue with her buzzing, I agree it wasn’t a million dollar act. But her comments were harsh even by her standards.”

What did you think of Mel’s reaction to Nyjah and Zyah’s performance? Let us know in the comments below.

America’s Got Talent, Season 21, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8/7c, NBC