AGT judge Sofia Vergara makes series history in first live show despite show facing backlash over controversial ‘twist’

AMERICA’S Got Talent judge Sofia Vergara made series history last night when she pressed the first live show, Golden Buzzer.

Sofia, 52, couldn’t contain her excitement after one act left her so impressed that she sent the Hakuna Matata Acrobats straight through to the final during Tuesday’s two-hour episode.

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The Modern Family star became the first AGT judge to use the new live show Golden Buzzers after host Terry Crews revealed a major change to the format that left fans furious.

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star announced that “the Golden Buzzer is about to air,” meaning each judge has the power to send one act to the final episode of this season.

“This summer, anything can happen,” Terry teased on the show’s live episodes, before AGT went on hiatus during the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

The show returned with a bang as Sofia reunited with fellow judges Simon Cowell, 64, Heidi Klum, 51, and Howie Mandel, 68, to kick off the first quarterfinals of season 19 on August 13.

By the end of the night, the four-member Tanzanian stunt group was all that could be talked about after Hakuna Matata won the first live show of the series, Golden Buzzer.

Heidi praised their “death-defying” performance set to Zayde Wolf’s Maniac, as the quartet did incredible headstands and mid-air splits while balancing on top of each other.

“This is one of the most difficult and dangerous acts we have ever seen in a live show,” Simon said of the display. “It seemed to me that you had arrived.”

“It’s death defying what you do,” Heidi added. “Plus, you’re doing this on a roller skate. You guys are amazing.”

“This is definitely one of the most ambitious acts I’ve seen on AGT,” said Sofia. “I can see the difference in hearing. You deserve to be here.

“I don’t think you need anyone’s help. But regardless, I’m going to have to do it,” she added, before standing up and pressing the golden buzzer.

AGT fans reacted to Hakuna Matata no X’s triumphant performance, with several people congratulating the group despite their distaste for the Golden Buzzer’s new twist.

“Wow… the Hakuna Matata acrobats were very credible,” one user commented. “They deserved that golden buzzer.”

Another comment read: “Hakuna Matata Acrobats were the best act of the night so far and definitely deserved the golden buzzer.”

“The Hakuna Matata acrobats were amazing tonight!!! They definitely have my vote!!!” a third fan wrote.

After Terry first explained how the Golden Buzzers would be used during the live shows, viewers declared the “desperate” new format “makes no sense” in tweets on X.

“I don’t like the golden buzzer. It was never really about talent,” one person complained. “I saw the judges basically force guest jurors to give the film to whoever they wanted.

“This is just telling fans, ‘We don’t like who you vote for,’” they added.

“If someone asked you to describe what #AGT is, if you’ve never seen it, your only option would be to say ‘oh, it’s just a show about acrobats where 4 people press a buzzer that rains golden confetti’.” another fan commented.

“Such a desperate attempt to generate something new because a golden buzzer of a live show makes no sense. #AGT,” wrote a third user.

While Hakuna Matata may have cut through the noise, viewers at home complained that the studio audience made it impossible to hear the judges’ feedback.

‘LITERALLY RUINING’

X users noticed that the live audience seemed louder than usual after each act, including a performance by the dance team from Los Osos High School in Rancho, Cucamonga, California.

“Shut up public, I can’t hear the microphone!” a user X exclaimed in all caps.

A second admitted: “The screaming audience is literally ruining everything. Slightly unpleasant reaction to some of the acts.

“They were all great, but none were THAT good.”

Someone mentioned: “I want to hear how the audience listens to these acts, because the broadcast audio sucks.

“The singers are drowned out by the backing track and the audience won’t shut up. You would think they would solve these problems because we are the ones voting.”

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