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Reality TV is known for its awkward moments, but those who tuned into Wednesday’s episode of The Masked Singer truly felt the awkwardness that those on set felt. Former New York mayor and district attorney Rudy Giuliani was the most recent “celebrity” to be unmasked on the reality series after being voted the weakest performer for his rendition of “Bad to the Bone” in a Jack in a Box costume. This has been a long-awaited unmasking as Deadline had reported back in February that Giuliani had been unmasked in a taping of the popular series, prompting judges Ken Jeong (Community) and Robin Thicke to walk off the set in protest.
Rudy Giuliani’s Awkward Unmasking
While most of The Masked Singer’s regular main cast tried to be professional and hold themselves together, the shock and confusion were remarkably evident during Giuliani’s unmasking. Host Nick Cannon seemed stunned when asking, “Mr. Giuliani, with all of the controversy that’s surrounding you right now, I think it surprises us all that you’re here on The Masked Singer.” Giuliani explained, “I guess the main reason is, I just had a granddaughter, Grace, and I want her to know that you should try everything, even things that are completely unlike you and unlikely.” During this interview, the usually goofy and animated Jeong held a stern face with his arms crossed. When Giuliani gave his farewell performance, Jeong was visibly heard saying, “I’m done,” before walking off the set. Thicke’s walk-off was not shown, but judges Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg and Nicole Scherzinger were the only ones shown dancing along to Giuliani’s last encore.
The Masked Singer’s Most Controversial Unmasking
The Masked Singer had a variety of unique contestants on the show, including T-Pain, Jesse McCartney, Jewel, and the late Bob Saget. They’ve welcomed controversial political figures on rare occasions, including former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. But the outrage over Rudy Giuliani is unique, as he is considered one of the prominent figures in the failed attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election. An unmasking is rarely revealed before the episode even airs, but the controversy surrounding Giuliani is unique. And even though this event was already reported over two months ago, it didn’t make the viewing experience any less weird.
Are you a fan of The Masked Singer? What went through your mind as Rudy Giuliani was unmasked? Share your thoughts on The Nerd Stash Facebook page or @TheNerdStash on Twitter.