Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-39843435-20190919112738/@comment-25433488-20191128040929

This is made even worse because the information in Vulture's article is easily corroborated too:

"But tensions hit an irrevocable high after an incident involving a 10-year-old black rapper named Dylan Gilmer. According to two sources, Union was told in a production meeting by producers that the show needed to pick an act 'that America can get behind.' Union objected to their suggestion that a dance group from Texas made up of white contestants could be that act, as it did not receive as much of an enthusiastic reply from the audience as Gilmer, according to two sources."

1. The dance group from Texas is quite obviously Emerald Belles; they and Dylan Gilmer were both in Episode 1407

2. Dylan Gilmer got a very positive audience and judge reaction. Emerald Belles was harshly criticized by Howie but made it through anyway

"In that same meeting, after contestants from a choir from South Africa (made up of black African members) were brought up, sources recall Howie Mandel saying, 'Maybe they can sing something from The Lion King.'"

3. The choir is obviously Ndlovu Youth Choir, who was also in Episode 1407 (although I'm personally willing to give Howie the benefit of the doubt on this one because a song from The Lion King would fit their performance style very well, plus they did a lot of African/Africa-themed music on the show).