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Viewers turn on ‘bitchy’ Voice coach Seal after surprising Lorde diss

BOY George described him as a “bitchy Bond villian” - and viewers slammed Seal last night for his harsh critiques, including a surprising dig at Kiwi superstar Lorde.

2 min read
June 26, 2017 - 9:51AM
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THE VOICE coach Seal faced a viewer backlash during last night’s episode due to his brash judging style, with co-star Boy George labelling him “bitchy”.

While the 54-year-old Brit passionately supported his own artists, talking up rocker Rennie as “Australia’s next global music superstar,” he was quick to criticise his fellow coaches’ artists.

Contestant Sarah Stone performed a rendition of Lorde’s single Green Light, an Australian top five hit that’s been praised by critics as one of the year’s best songs — but Seal wasn’t a fan.

“After that performance, is Sarah looking like the strongest female voice in the competition?” host Sonia Kruger asked him.

Seal's judging style faced some criticism last night.
Seal's judging style faced some criticism last night.

“The strongest female voice in the competition? No. Look, Sarah, I really like you — I’ve told you that off set. I think you made the most of a not particularly good song. I’m not a big fan. I couldn’t sing that song because it wouldn’t inspire me, but I thought you did great,” he told her.

“Well she sang it better than Seal!” quipped Stone’s coach, Boy George.

“Perhaps, because Seal doesn’t sing bad songs,” the Kiss From A Rose singer responded.

The Lorde shade was a critique too far for some viewers:

When Stone performed a second song later in the show, Kruger asked Seal if she’d changed his mind after his ‘strong’ critique of her previous performance.

“It wasn’t strong, it was just truthful. What’s your question?” he shot back.

Elsewhere in the episode, Seal’s feedback confounded his fellow coaches, particularly after Kelly Rowland’s artist Hoseah Partsch’s performance. Partsch had the entire studio audience singing along to a rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody — but Seal criticised him for “not connecting with the audience.”

“Him moving the audience from left to right, and them singing every note, wasn’t an interaction? He had a complete connection, I completely disagree,” said Rowland.

Kelly Rowland hits back at Seal.
Kelly Rowland hits back at Seal.

“If that wasn’t connectivity, then I’m living in a world gone insane,” said Boy George.

During off-the-cuff moments in the show, Boy George had variously described his rival as everything from “bitchy” to a “Bond villain.”

The veteran British star returned to The Voice this season after a three-year absence — and he’s clearly proving to be the show’s most, ahem, controversial coach:

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/viewers-turn-on-bitchy-voice-coach-seal-after-surprising-lorde-diss/news-story/5796bd71b7f17464df49ef3aadbbfe24