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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Music and Concerts devider 'Britain's Got Talent' judge Simon Cowell on Filipino singer Matty Juniosa: 'I could have given him 2 Golden Buzzers'

'Britain's Got Talent' judge Simon Cowell on Filipino singer Matty Juniosa: 'I could have given him 2 Golden Buzzers'

Published Mar 29, 2026 10:30 pm
Filipino singer Matty Juniosa was moved to tears after earning a Golden Buzzer at his Britain's Got Talent audition on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time).
Matty Juniosa (Facebook)
Matty Juniosa (Facebook)
His powerful rendition of Prince’s "Purple Rain" also earned him a standing ovation from the judges.
Simon personally walked onstage to embrace Matty after hitting the Golden Buzzer, a clear testament to how deeply the performance moved him.
"That's one of my favorite songs," Simon told Matty, before turning to the crowd. "How good was that?" he asked, drawing a thunderous response from the audience
Simon then addressed the crowd directly: "To everyone in this audience, this is your Golden Buzzer as well. Genuine."

The golden buzzer — first introduced in America's Got Talent Season 9 and a beloved staple of BGT — allows a judge or host to send an exceptional act straight to the live shows, skipping all further elimination rounds.
Before taking the stage, Matty revealed he works as a waiter in Glasgow. The rising star had previously auditioned for Idol Philippines and arrived at the BGT audition full of energy, charming judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and KSI before a single note was sung.
Simon later took to Instagram to share his enthusiasm: "I love this audition, and I could have given him 2 Golden Buzzers. Hope you all love the audition as well."
Matty, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, told ABS-CBN during his audition for Idol Philippines that he is an avid fan of One Direction.
But the 27-year-old singer said he knew he was different from a young age. He recalled facing pressure from society and even from his family to fit in when he was younger. But growing up, he learned to embrace his identity.

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Matty Juniosa Britain\'s Got Talent Simon Cowell Idol Philippines ABS-CBN Purple Rain by Prince
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