Britain’s Got Talent sparks controversy with ‘inappropriate’ joke by Simon Cowell and Bruno Tonioli
Britain’s Got Talent causes controversy with ‘inappropriate’ joke in which Bruno Tonioli ‘shoots Simon Cowell with a crossbow’
- The prank allegedly saw Simon, 63, pretend to be knocked down by a worried Bruno, 67, while operating a crossbow onstage between auditions.
- It wouldn’t be the first time the music mogul has played this trick, as he previously pulled the same prank on America’s Got Talent.
Britain’s Got Talent has reportedly gotten into trouble with an “inappropriate” prank between auditions, in which Simon Cowell pretended to be badly injured.
The talent show is currently filming its new series and has welcomed a host of hopeful acts to the stage to show what they can do.
But it is said that at one point during filming, judges Bruno Tonioli and Simon, 63, took their own turn when the former appeared as the butt of the joke.
According Sunthe new judge, 67, was given a crossbow to shoot at his music mogul boss, but was spooked when Simon pretended the arrow had knocked him down and wounded him.
It wouldn’t be the first time the Syco boss has played this trick, either, as he previously pulled the exact same prank on America’s Got Talent.
Divided: Britain’s Got Talent has caused controversy with an alleged ‘inappropriate’ joke in which Bruno Tonioli ‘shoots Simon Cowell with a crossbow’
One trick pony: It wouldn’t be the first time the Syco boss has played this trick, either, as he previously pulled the exact same prank on America’s Got Talent (pictured by AGT in 2021)
Strict judge Bruno is said to have been misled into thinking he shot Simon to death in front of the live audience, with actual victims calling the prank disrespectful.
The publication reports that prior to Simon’s prank, an act was on stage performing a balloon-shooting routine.
Deciding to have a laugh between acts, Simon and Bruno are said to have also taken the stage with a crossbow, the latter blindfolded.
He was then allegedly told to shoot, unaware that the longtime judge was ready to pretend that he had shot her by having a rigged crossbow impaled in his chest by the crew.
Simon is said to have laid on the ground playing dead as a paramedic rushed to help him in front of the live audience, leaving Bruno shocked.
MailOnline has contacted representatives from Bruno Tonioli, Simon Cowell and Britain’s Got Talent for comment.
While everyone reportedly got a laugh after Simon admitted he wasn’t serious, some fans weren’t all that impressed with the choice of joke.
The Sun reports that the victim of the crossbow attack, Laura Sugden, said: “I can’t believe it’s allowed on the show.” It is not regulated, but it is a lethal weapon.
Plot: Deciding to laugh in between acts, Simon and Bruno are said to have come up on stage with a crossbow for the prank, the latter blindfolded.
Got It: But Bruno was supposedly told to shoot it, unaware that the longtime judge was ready to pretend he had shot him by having a rigged crossbow jammed into his chest by the crew.
And again: Simon previously pulled the exact same prank on AGT, where he lay on his back and pretended not to be able to move, with a fake arrow through his chest (pictured in 2021)
I have been in a situation where I have lost someone. For Britain’s Got Talent to show that as a joke, I find it really disrespectful.
Supposedly, Bruno was an easy target for Simon as the newest judge to join the show this year, taking over from David Walliams.
The former Strictly Come Dancing judge reportedly told friends he didn’t immediately know the BGT incident was a stunt, and thought it was “inappropriate.”
A source close to the star added that the stunt felt wrong in light of the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins while working with Alec Baldwin on his film set in October 2021.
However, a source from BGT told the publication: “This is a light-hearted skit on the show between the judges, and is not intended to cause any offence.”
Actually, Simon pulled off the exact same prank before on America’s Got Talent in 2021, instead casting Sofia Vergara as his victim that time.
With the exact same turn of events at the time, which aired on the show, Sofia was left in shock as she was convinced that she had hurt him.
But revealing that he was joking and removing the arrow from his chest, Simon laughed as a relieved Sofia managed to see the funny side as well.
Concerned: That time, Sofia was the victim, since she was the one who shot and was relieved to know that he was not hurt.
New Addition: Bruno is supposed to have been an easy target for Simon as the newest judge to join the show this year, taking over from David Walliams (Judge panel pictured as LR Bruno, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Simon)