‘AGT Fantasy League’ drama: Heidi Klum calls out magician Anna Deguzman for being ‘rude’ toward Mel B
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The fifth episode of “America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League” upped the ante on the immense level of talent thanks to the first group of semi-finalists. But one particular moment stood out for all the wrong reasons, as judge Heidi Klum called out one of the contestants, magician Anna Deguzman, for being “rude” toward her fellow panelist, Mel B. In the end, the Season 18 runner-up offered up a heartfelt apology, but not before Heidi told her, “That did not make me like you so much.”
It all started when Anna asked Mel and Howie Mandel to help her out with her close-up trick on the big stage. Midway through the act, the Bergenfield, NJ magician instructed Mel to pick either a $1 bill or a $100 bill, and when Mel inexplicably chose a $20 bill (which was not one of the options), Anna chuckled and stated, “It’s okay, you’re pretty.”
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The camera quickly cut to Heidi at the judges’ table, who grimaced and noted, “That’s rude.”
Later, Anna doubled-down and proclaimed, “Wow, she can read!” after Mel read out the first digit of her bill’s serial number. As the audience started booing, Anna was heard saying, “I’m sorry, I’m just kidding.”
At the end of the performance, Simon Cowell seemed to be on Anna’s side, even admitting that he’s “not so sure” Mel was the best assistant for the magic trick.
SEE‘America’s Got Talent’ winners list: All seasons, plus ‘Champions’ and ‘Extreme’
Anna responded by saying, “I should have picked Heidi. No, I’m just kidding. You’re great.”
That’s when her mentor, Howie, instructed her to zip her lips in a fatherly manner. He let the audience know that Anna took a “big risk” by doing a “smaller illusion” this time around, and that it was still “amazing.”
When it was finally Heidi’s time to speak, she declared, “I don’t know if I loved it this much today, I have to be honest with you. It was a lot of talking, and also some of the talking you said, I also didn’t love so much. You know, what you said to Mel, that kind of hurt me a little bit. I really, really like you, and that did not make me like you so much.”
Anna apologized and conceded that she thought her and Mel were “both joking with each other,” which Simon wholeheartedly agreed with.
Mel then confessed that all of Anna’s comments went “over [her] head” and that she was simply focused on the magic, which was “really good.”
When Anna left the stage, Heidi turned to Mel and told her, “I thought that was mean towards you,” and again Mel noted how she didn’t even hear any of the remarks in questions.
Backstage, Anna addressed the situation head-on: “The pressure just got to me. I just got really intimidated by all of the other championship acts that went before me. I hope I get another chance to show them what I have in the Finals.”
Anna’s competition this week on “AGT Fantasy League” consisted of aerialist Aidan Bryant, singer Enkh-Erdene, dance group Ghetto Kids, singer Kodi Lee, pole dancer Kristy Sellars, singer Loren Allred, musicians Pack Drumline, comedian Preacher Lawson, and sword balancing act Vardanyan Brothers. Aidan and Kodi received Golden Buzzer tickets to the finale from Mel and Howie, respectively, while Pack Drumline earned the audience wild card spot.
Terry Crews serves as the host for this program, just as he does for “America’s Got Talent” every summer. The next Semi-Finals round will air on NBC on February 5, and then the “Fantasy League” Finals are scheduled for February 12.
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