Voice Australia viewers criticized the show’s big finale for one very “disappointing” detail.
The 2024 finale aired on Sunday night and LeAnn Rimes’ act Reuben De Melo was crowned the winner of the singing competition.
The father of three seemed surprised when host Sonia Kruger told him he had won $100,000 in prizes and an artist development package with Studios 301.
However, disgruntled fans complained that the ending was pre-recorded and noted that Reuben’s reaction seemed somewhat disappointing.
While previous series of The Voice featured live finals, the singing competition has been pre-recorded in more recent years, with four alternative endings recorded.
The final contestants only find out the result when the show airs on Channel Seven after the public vote, and many viewers complain that Reuben’s reaction seems “fake.”
On social media, one fan fumed: “I wish it was live so I wouldn’t have fake pre-recorded reactions.”
Another asked: ‘Can you bring live results reactions?! “His reaction seemed so disappointing.”
Voice Australia viewers criticized the show’s grand finale for a very “disappointing” detail after Reuben De Melo (pictured) was crowned the 2024 winner.
A third commented: ‘I can’t figure out how to pre-record the result. It takes the emotion out of the result. Reuben looked totally disappointed.
“His family seemed very happy and tearful, but we know he was acting, so it takes the joy out of seeing him.”
While another raged: ‘Why was the ending pre-recorded? Either you have a live ending or don’t bother, it’s ridiculous to end it like that, did you record all the winning artists? What the hell has happened to Australian television? On a happier note, congratulations Reuben!’
Another added: “He seems like the nicest person.” This was not a criticism of him but rather the pre-recording process. No one had won at that point, so all reactions were faked. Congratulations to him, he’s incredible.”
A friend of Reuben’s also commented on The Voice winner’s Instagram reveal post to insist that the singer’s reaction was much more genuine when the show aired on TV.
‘Reuben is one of my great friends. We had a watch party and believe me, he wasn’t disappointed when we all heard the news!’ they wrote.
‘I’m sure he will share it on his social networks. It was a great moment and couldn’t have been won by anyone more deserving!’
The winner of the 2021 show, Bella Taylor Smith, previously complained that it was a “strange” experience having to record four separate final results in one day.
Following his victory, disgruntled fans complained that the finish was pre-recorded and noted that Reuben’s reaction seemed “fake” (pictured with coach LeAnn Rimes).
“The night of the grand finale was very busy because we not only had to film the four alternative endings, but also the four singles performed at the end,” he told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“And then that night we also did our duets with the coaches and our solo performances, and then you had to clean up the confetti at the end and do all that.”
In Sunday night’s final, Reuben admitted he never thought he would make it to the end of the competition when he was crowned the 2024 winner.
“I never thought I would make it this far, this is crazy,” he said in the pre-recorded segment about his victory.
Elsewhere, celebrity trainer LeAnn was quick to share kind words for her trainee following her triumphant win.
“I’m so proud,” the Can’t Fight The Moonlight singer gushed.
‘You deserve every bit of this moment and I feel so honored to be on this journey with you. You’re amazing.’
Reuben competed in the grand final alongside Annie Jones from Team Adam, Jaedyn Randell from Team Kate, and SKŸE from Team Guy.
Reuben won $100,000 in prizes, plus a music master class and an industrial recording development package with Alexandria-based Studios 301.
It was the first year the winner was not offered an automatic recording contract with Universal Music Australia or EMI Music Australia.
It was claimed the controversial move could be a good thing for the 2024 winner and break the “terrible cycle” of talent failing to cash in on their wins.
Judge Kate defended the change by stating that being “shackled” to a major label early in your career can be a curse rather than a blessing.
“In the past, some of these artists ended up locked into contracts with major labels before they really discovered who they were as artists,” he told TV Tonight.
Reuben competed in the grand final alongside Annie Jones (center) from team Adam, Jaedyn Randell (left) from team Kate, and SKŸE (right) from team Guy.
‘As an artist, you need time to be able to perfect your craft. I think the risk, when you’re so young or inexperienced, of going out and being shackled to a major label from the start is too early.’
In a stunning final solo performance of House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals, Rueben left all four coaches in awe, with Kate-Miller Heidke praising her as “exceptional”.
‘I can’t stop smiling. You just gave it your all. “It was crazy,” added LeAnn, who also joined Reuben on stage for a heartfelt duet of Coldplay’s Fix You.
Reuben wowed Australian audiences (and the show’s judges Adam Lambert, Guy Sebastian, Kate and LeAnn) with his first blind audition.
Eager to catch him, LeAnn used her Ultimate Block to guarantee he would be on her team.
‘I knew as soon as he opened his mouth and I heard him sing. “There was a lot of feeling there,” he said at the time.
“There was no way I was going to let the other coaches get to him before me.”