Masked Singer host Joel Dommett breaks silence on Macy Gray’s ‘diva strop’ and calls it ‘funniest thing he’s ever seen’

MASKED Singer host Joel Dommett has broken his silence after singer Macy Gray stormed off the show, calling it the “funniest thing he’s ever seen.”

The iconic I Try singer, 57, was sent home on Saturday night’s show, but caused a commotion on stage when she walked off before the big reveal.

Dressed as Toad In The Hole – complete with a pie around her middle – Macy was left “blind-sided” when she was saved in favour of the currently unrevealed Bear because they believed they knew who she was. 

Joel has now spoken to Paddy McGuinness on his BBC Radio Two show, after her diva strop.

The 39-year-old TV presenter said: “It’s sort of a singing show but it’s also sort of a guessing show – so it kind of doesn’t really sit in either camp.

“And also if you’re a great singer and you make it through then that’s absolutely wonderful, but sometimes, like the case with Macy Gray, she has such a recognisable voice and she’s a legend so you immediately know who it is.

“So it’s kind of one of those where we all know who it is, she might as well go and then the other person can go through as we don’t quite know who they are. So the guessing game continues.”

Joel added to Paddy: “The funny thing is, I think it’s a win win scenario on that game – whether you go through to the final it’s a win as you’re winning it.

“But also if you go home early it’s a win because you get to go early and you get the same money.”

Sharing his thoughts on the show, Paddy interjected: “I can see if you’re a good singer where the upset with Macy might come in – you’ve explained it beautifully but if you’re an actual professional singer and you’re on there, and then there’s someone who isn’t a pro singer has gone through…”

Joel went on: “But you can’t be vexed when you’re dressed as a toad in pastry, like you can’t be vexed.

“She’s absolutely incredible, and she’s got such a good voice, but I never have witnessed anything more funny than a person dressed as a six foot toad storming off angrily. It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Joel then addressed his very short shorts on the show, adding: “But also, did you see what I was wearing? It was a holiday special so I was there in shorts that I thought was a funny joke – I’d suggested it to production and they were like ‘great’ – so I said why don’t we make the shorts shorter every advert break, so we did that and then they got really short.

“So not only did she storm off, but she’s storming off while I’m stood next to her in hot pants.”

When Jonathan Ross announced they would be going home, Macy, while still in full unrevealed costume, walked off stage to the shock of the judges including Maya Jama and Mo Gilligan. 

She returned to be unmasked officially with the help of Joel Dommett, giving blunt answers to wind up the show. 

Maya tried to soften the blow of the elimination by calling her “an icon and an idol” and sharing she used to sing Macy’s songs growing up.

“It’s an unmistakeable voice, that is the thing!” shared Joel, hinting at them being able to recognise her may be why she was eliminated so early.

Jonathan also spoke about the clues, noting that one of the clues was that she had a song in Shrek, but when asked which one it was, Macy simply responded: “I forget”.

Macy did eventually warm up, with Jonathan and Joel commenting on the fact that Joel was wearing a pair of stripey shorts and sock hold-ups, noting: “I couldn’t stop looking at your legs!”

However, her upset was clear for viewers, with the star looking red-eyed as she nodded to the judges before singing her final song.

Fans later branded the moment “f**king awkward” and a “diva strop”. 

This was Macy’s third time appearing on the franchise, first giving the guessing game a shot in 2021 when she appeared on the Australian version of the show as Atlantis.

A source revealed to The Sun that because Macy reached the final of the US version as Sea Queen in 2023, she was “totally blindsided” to be one of the first to leave this series.

In fact bosses were left scrambling for nearly an hour to coax Macy back on stage – none of which was seen on screen.

A whistleblower said: “This has never happened on The Masked Singer before.

“When Macy stormed off stage everyone was frozen in shock but as soon as she reached backstage, crew removed her mask so they could talk her down. 

“Macy was almost shell-shocked to start with and was basically gutted to be out so early because she really enjoyed being on the American version – when obviously she did brilliantly – so was totally blindsided.” 

“It was the shock of it for her as well as the upset and in that moment she had a very raw, human reaction and wanted out,” they added.