America has talent Season 19 reached a dramatic climax on August 20 when Japanese dance and acrobatic group Airfootworks put on a performance that sparked a strong response from the judges.
The group's gravity-defying routine sparked a friendly clash between Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel, culminating in an unprecedented double Golden Buzzer moment (kind).
As Airfootworks wrapped up their intricate and masterfully executed performance, set to Ed Sheeran's 'Celestial', Simon exclaimed: “Terry, I'm about to be fired,” before chasing the Golden Buzzer.
However, Howie, who was officially assigned the buzzer for the night, quickly intervened. In a split-second move, Mandel pressed the buzzer just before Cowell could, securing Airfootworks a direct route to the finals.
The moment that followed was filled with spontaneous mayhem as both judges jockeyed for credit. A video replay confirmed that Mandel had narrowly edged Cowell at the buzzer.
“I feel like I've been abused!” Mandel quipped, as the two exchanged playful banter about who deserved the praise.
Mandel then joined Airfootworks on stage to personally praise them, saying, “You're athletes, you're dancers… you're magicians. I don't know how you do it, but what you just did was absolutely brilliant.”
Cowell, still enjoying the moment, admitted: 'I couldn't help myself! It was such an amazing performance that I felt I had to be a part of it.” He added, “That's what this show is all about—finding acts like that who are truly world-class.”
This season, Cowell has already caused a stir by awarding a second Golden Buzzer to Sky Elements during the auditions, a move that saw all the judges receive extra buzzer pushes.
With Airfootworks now fast-tracked to the finals, the remaining contestants from the night face an uphill battle as they compete for one of the three remaining spots via public vote. The stakes are high and the competition is fierce.
The results of this live show will be revealed during a special episode on Wednesday, August 21 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Viewers will find out which acts will step up alongside Airfootworks, moving one step closer to ultimate victory.
Watch Airfootworks win Golden Buzzer America has talent below.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/airfootworks-golden-buzzer-agt-1235757406/