Los Angeles—In a twist that left jaws on the floor, Fox’s “The Masked Singer” delivered one of its wildest moments yet during the season 13 semi-finals on April 30. The hit singing competition, known for its secrecy and star-studded reveals, pulled off a stunt that had even the judges reeling. An Oscar-winning filmmaker, hiding under the feathered guise of Lucky Duck, stormed the stage to drop a bombshell that flipped the game on its head.
The semi-finals were already heating up, with the final four contestants—Boogie Woogie, Coral, Mad Scientist Monster, and Pearl—battling for a spot in the May 7 finale. Each had brought their A-game, belting out tracks like Maroon 5’s “Maps” and showing off vocal chops that had the panel buzzing. But just as the tension peaked, Lucky Duck waddled in, stealing the spotlight. In a move no one saw coming, the mystery figure announced that none of the final four would be eliminated. All would advance to the season 13 finale, a first in the show’s history.
Then came the unmasking. The crowd roared as Lucky Duck peeled off the costume to reveal Taika Waititi, the Oscar-winning director behind “Jojo Rabbit.” Waititi, grinning ear to ear, stood next to his wife, judge Rita Ora, who looked as stunned as the audience. The New Zealand filmmaker, not exactly known for his singing, had been lurking in the competition, only to emerge with a game-changing proclamation.
This wasn’t Waititi’s first brush with the show’s chaos. Earlier in the season, on April 16, the “Lucky 6” episode saw actor Matthew Lawrence unmasked as Paparazzo. A week later, on April 23, singer Edwin McCain was revealed as Nessy. The season had already unmasked heavyweights like Cedric the Entertainer, Oscar De La Hoya, and Candace Cameron Bure, but Waititi’s reveal hit different. His Oscar cred and connection to Ora added a layer of Hollywood intrigue that sent fans into a frenzy.
The decision to keep all four semi-finalists wasn’t just a gimmick. It set the stage for a finale where Boogie Woogie, Coral, Mad Scientist Monster, and Pearl will face off for the Golden Mask trophy. The panel—Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Ora—will also see one of their own crowned with the Golden Ear trophy for the most correct guesses this season. With Waititi’s stunt still echoing, the May 7 showdown promises to be a nail-biter.
Season 13 has been a rollercoaster, kicking off with Cedric the Entertainer’s exit as Honey Pot and rolling through reveals like Aubrey O’Day as Ant and James Van Der Beek as Griffin. Waititi’s curveball, though, takes the cake. The finale airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Fox, and if this twist is any hint, expect the unexpected.