One rejected America’s Got Talent contestant recently clapped back at judge Howie Mandel on Instagram. Tyler Scott Hoover, also known as The Stunner, showed off his dance moves in a recent Season 16 episode.
Hoover wore a form-fitting superhero costume reminiscent of Spider-Man for his routine, which involved a few breakdancing tricks. Mandel wasn’t impressed, saying “there was nothing original about it.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CROzGShnvI_/
Rejected ‘AGT’ Contestant Claps Back at Howie Mandel
Judges Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara were fans of Hoover’s performance, voting yes to sending him through. However, Simon Cowell buzzed the act, and Mandel also voted no, meaning The Stunner didn’t make it to the next round.
After Hoover left the stage, Vergara told Mandel that he showed off “a very difficult way of dancing,” to which Mandel replied, “In 1986.” Hoover latched onto this comment and posted a video response on his Instagram account.
“I better take my time machine back a few decades,” Hoover wrote in the caption, adding, “I wanted to use his ignorant remark to fuel a silly video.”
In the ’80s-inspired clip, Hoover brings out a boombox and proceeds to show off some seriously cool breakdancing skills. Commenters were impressed, with one asking if they edited moves like this out of Hoover’s audition. He responded that “there was alot [sic] edited.”
In his Instagram bio, Hoover describes himself as a Spider-Man cosplayer, an acrobat, and a B-boy. He has 70,000 followers on the platform, as well as 125,000 subscribers on YouTube. So it’s clear that not everyone agrees with Mandel about Hoover’s talent.
After his audition aired on America’s Got Talent, Hoover posted on Instagram thanking fans for their “awesome feedback.” He added, “Regardless of the outcome it’s super flattering to know how many of you still enjoyed it (even if the full performance wasn’t shown on TV).”
Hoover said this isn’t the last people will see of The Stunner. What do you think of his audition? Do you agree with Mandel, or do you wish Hoover had gotten through? Let us know in the comments.
Words by:
Jill O'Rourke Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit
