Auditions can be interesting, disappointing, and funny at the same time. It’s interesting to see what talent there is, depending on what the contest is about. Singers can grace our screens with amazing vocals on American Idol, while acrobats woo audiences with impossible body contortions on America’s Got Talent. One never really knows what to expect. It’s always disappointing when some of the best talents do not make the cut. Auditions can be funny because they also have people who are looking to just make others laugh.
Most auditions are not broadcast on television, but when they are, it’s always a treat for the viewer. On rare occasions, things get extra heated and harsh verbal exchanges may happen between judges and contestants. Sometimes, auditions go wrong, emotions rise, and contestants are forced to walk away. We are here to highlight some of those raw moments.
10 Tamera Foster (The X Factor, UK)
Not all walks off stage are out of anger. Sometimes, the contestant is overwhelmed by the moment. That is exactly what happened to 16-year old Tamera, who forgot her lyrics mid-performance. She asked to have a few seconds off stage and wowed the judges when she returned. When she finished performing Whitney Houston’s ‘I Have Nothing’, Tamera received a standing ovation from the audience.
9 Ian Bernado (American Idol)
American Idol described Ian Bernado as ‘The Ultimate NewYorker’.Dressed in a pair of blue jeans, a shirt in the same color, and a black headband, Bernado had a power walk and was confident in his ability to win. Ian had previously had a bad audition at So You Think You Can Dance, but that did not deter him from trying something else. "I will not stop until I’m a household name”, his words, not ours. Bernado’s performance of ‘Gloria’ was hilarious. He left the judges in stitches, took the L, and walked away when he couldn’t stand them anymore. More like, he was escorted away when Simon couldn’t stand him, shattering his dreams of becoming the next American Idol.
8 Debbie Stevens (The X Factor, UK)
Termed ‘The Angriest Contestant Ever’ by X Factor Global’s YouTube Channel, Debbie Stevens walked onto the stage looking like the girl next door. Debbie had dreamed of performing on stage and getting an encore from ‘millions and millions of people’. In her own words: “I’ve got it all.” The judges, however, disagreed due to the fact that she’d not invested in her appearance. This led to an altercation with Louis Walsh that saw the two pour water on each other.
7 Ablisa (The X Factor, UK)
British duo Ablisa wanted to ‘live the dream, be on stage and share our personalities, and then hopefully, the judges will like us.’ The opposite is quite what happened. Right from the beginning of their interaction with the judges, the girls were bubbly. Things went south quite quickly when the audience began to heckle, leading them to walk off stage. The two came back and performed, but didn’t do themselves any justice.
6 Shawn Armenta (The X Factor, USA)
It’s never too late to chase a dream. Shawn Armenta proved that when he auditioned for The X Factor at the age of 50. He came prepared, or so he thought. According to Shawn, he had trained for a year and six months. His performance of an original song, ‘Candy Girl’, was not well received. Shawn’s choreography, too, was not so impressive. A confrontation with the judges saw him walk off the stage.
5 Triple Trouble (The X Factor, UK)
When ‘Triple Trouble’ walked on stage, they had a good message to share: “Not all teenagers are the same.” While their intentions were well-meaning, their singing did not touch the judges. Not one bit. They butchered Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’, sending the judges and audience hooting with laughter. The lead, George, wasn’t amused and proceeded to exchange a few words with Simon Cowell. 'Triple Trouble' proceeded to walk off stage after a few boos by the audience.
4 George Gerasimou (The X Factor, UK)
Rarely in this domain do we have repeat offenders, as most contestants often learn from the first audition and come back more prepared. When George from ‘Triple Trouble’ decided to audition a second time, he was 19. Despite his passion for music, and promise to take critic more maturely, George’s second audition was a train wreck, just like the first. This time, he was escorted off stage.
3 Ashwin Abinashi (The X Factor, UK)
At 23, Ashwin Abinashi walked onto the X Factor stage with a confident demeanor, something Simon Cowell was quick to point out. He proceeded to sing, leaving the judges’ mouths wide agape. Asked how he thought he did, Ashwin said, “Brilliantly.” An argument ensued that saw him be termed as ‘deluded’. When all the judges said ‘No’, he walked away saying, “Your loss, not mine.”
2 Mary Laconelli ( American Idol)
Almost every young singer thinks they are the next Mariah Carey, so did Mary Laconelli, who seemed to be well on her way to stardom. She was escorted into the audition room like she was already the next idol. Mary’s voice was angelic, but her attitude was straight from hell. After performing ‘Unchained Melody, she didn’t care for the judges’ opinions. “ So, you have my number. If you change your mind, give me a call.” Mary said as she walked away.
1 Zoe Alexander (The X Factor, UK)
When Zoe Alexander walked on stage, she looked like a superstar. Everything from her outfit to her hair screamed ‘Rockstar in the making’, something the judges pointed out. To cut it short, she looked everything like Pink. Unlike Pink, however, Zoe’s vocals did not meet the judges’ expectations. Her rendition of ‘So What’ was a little below the bar. When Zoe didn’t get the yeses she’d hoped for, all hell broke loose, and she angrily marched off stage, all while yelling expletives at the judges.