How Lachie Gill found out he won The Voice

Australia watched as Lachie Gill was named the winner of The Voice. But how he found out was different to what you saw on TV.

Fans of The Voice have been left stunned and disappointed after this year’s grand final episode.

Team Rita’s top pick Lachie Gill took out the 2022 competition, beating vocal powerhouses Jordan Tavita from Team Guy, Faith Sosene from Team Jess, and Thando Sikwila from Team Keith.

Because the show was prerecorded, Lachie (and the fellow finalists) saw their fate play-out at the same time as the rest of Australia.

Lachie had a viewing party with his family and friends, and recorded the moment he snagged The Voice crown, $100,000 in prize money and a Universal Music Australia recording contract.

The viewing party’s celebrations were far more over-the-top than Lachie’s subdued reaction on The Voice stage, a detail fans were very quick to point out and share their disappointment for.

“The whole finale is a bit of meh for me,” one fan wrote on Facebook.

“Not a convincing win celebration especially from the Voice,” another said.

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The 24 year old PE teacher won $100,000 and a recording contract. Picture: Facebook/TheVoiceAU

The victory ‘celebrations’ have been slammed ny fans. Picture: Facebook/TheVoiceAU

Like the two seasons before, Channel 7 prerecorded the grand final episode, meaning each finalist got to act out their winning (and losing) moments multiple times throughout the night.

The final winner was then chosen based on viewers’ votes, which sparked confusion throughout the week and mild suspicion of the validity of Lachie’s victory after Sunday night’s episode.

“Something doesn’t add up … unless we can see the actual votes?” one fan commented below the video of Lachie’s victory announcement.

Coach Rita Ora pre-win. Picture: Facebook/TheVoiceAU

Coach Rita post-Lachie’s win. Picture: Facebook/TheVoiceAU

To be fair, this is The Voice, not The Oscars. It’s perhaps understandable that the group’s reactions were underwhelming.

Not to mention they’d be absolutely exhausted after spending hours recording, singing their lungs out before having to pretend to lose over and over again (and only ‘win’ once).

But fans weren’t shy about voicing their disappointment in the prerecorded format and the subdued celebrations.

The general consensus across social media: “go back to live shows”.

This has been the best season of #TheVoiceAU so far but if it’s back in 2023 ffs please don’t pre record the entire season

— 𝐃𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@DylanMatthews91) May 29, 2022

“There’s something about knowing that their reactions are prerecorded that makes it very weird to watch,” one fan wrote on Instagram.

Finale should be live and not pre recorded. There's no excitement. #TheVoiceAU

— Greg Smith (@Regdela1) May 29, 2022

“Please please Channel 7 you need to bring back the live shows none of this prerecorded crap. It’s not the same.”

The 24 year old’s victory was made more bittersweet by the frustration and anger it stirred in many devoted fans of the program, accusing the program of “whitewashing” an incredibly diverse final four.

Literally 3 powerful voices from POC that you don't normally hear and this generic voice wins 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ #TheVoiceAU

— Naminaz (@Naminazina) May 29, 2022

I thought this was called #TheVoiceAU? Yet the one with the weakest voice of the four won 🤷🏼‍♂️

— happydays (@f22bmw) May 29, 2022

Amid the backlash, the contestants and Rita Ora have congratulated Lachie, and the runners-up have responded to the public’s harsh reactions.

Lachie Gill (left) at The Voice semi-finals with fellow finalists Faith Sosene, Jordan Tavita, and Thando Sikwila. Picture: Supplied.

Originally published as How Lachie Gill found out he won The Voice