America’s Got Talent Season 19 reached a dramatic peak on Aug. 20 when Japanese dance and acrobatic group Airfootworks delivered a performance that ignited a heated response from the judges.
The group’s gravity-defying routine set off a friendly clash between Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel, culminating in an unprecedented double Golden Buzzer moment (kind of).
As Airfootworks concluded their intricate and masterfully executed performance, which was set to “Celestial” by Ed Sheeran, Simon exclaimed, “Terry, I am just about to get myself fired,” before lunging for 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 path to the finals.
The ensuing moment was filled with lighthearted chaos, as both judges vied for credit. A video replay confirmed that Mandel had narrowly outpaced Cowell to the buzzer.
“I feel like I’ve been abused!” Mandel quipped, as the two exchanged playful banter over who deserved the accolade.
Mandel then joined Airfootworks on stage to personally commend them, saying, “You guys are athletes, you guys are dancers…you guys are magicians. I don’t know how you do it, but what you just did was absolutely brilliant.”
Cowell, still reveling in the moment, admitted, “I just couldn’t help myself! It was such an amazing performance that I felt like I had to be a part of it.” He added, “This is what this show is all about—finding acts like this that 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 led to all judges receiving an extra buzzer push.
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 through audience voting. The stakes are significant, and the competition is fierce.
The results of this live show will be unveiled during a special episode on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Viewers will learn which acts will advance alongside Airfootworks, moving one step closer to the ultimate victory.
Check out Airfootworks earn a Golden Buzzer on America’s Got Talent below.
