I just saw this thread...no, this show is not rigged. First of all, that would be illegal, and also, highly unpredictable results (especially in Season 13) have shown that anything can happen. Sure, the show tries to manipulate the audience into voting for certain acts by hyping them up and giving them more airtime than others, but that's nothing new for shows like this.

People just complain about shows like this being "rigged" because stuff happened that they didn't agree with. "This act that I don't like went far/this act that I like got eliminated! THIS SHOW IS RIGGED!!!!!" It happens all the time on this wiki alone (I even see some of it in this very thread), and I've also seen it a bunch in YouTube comments and on Twitter. I think the worst example I've seen on this show was when Tape Face didn't win Season 11 and his fanbase just went insane. This show isn't the only one either though, it happens on all of these reality competition shows just due to the nature of them.

I think talent shows and reality shows have been around for long enough now that we know they can be edited and narrated a certain way.

Personally I give AGT the benefit of the doubt regarding it being rigged, as I don't think the winner has always been who the judges would've chosen. For example, the judges' reaction to Jai McDowall winning BGT Season 5. 

I never got the impression Kodi Lee winning was necessarily rigged as I felt he was a fan favourite since his audition aired. If anything I thought he had a favourable edit which worked to his advantage, as I would think most golden buzzers acts do getting a good slot, and the judges were like rooting for him, but I think America still voted for him. 

No it isn't 

exaclty

kodi winning wasnt rigged

Hi brooklyn

hey

Ok I know this is late, but yeah I’m getting tired of people saying AGT is rigged. I wish people will stop but it likely won’t happen.

same

Voting is 100% not rigged. There is literally a law for all reality competition shows saying they can’t rig voting