A spoken word performance about fatherhood, faith and family brought tears, a standing ovation and a golden buzzer on the latest episode of Britain’s Got Talent.
Before performing in Saturday's semi-final, contestant Sonny Green explained the inspiration behind the piece. He recalled walking his seven-year-old son to school when his son became embarrassed and did not want to give him a cuddle in front of his friends.
Calling him back for a hug anyway, Green said it made him wonder if there would ever be a day his child felt “too old” for affection, inspiring him to write a message for his sons to read when they are older.
What began as a heartfelt message about love and respect took a deeply personal turn when Green opened up about his Christian faith.
He said: “I hope you find God like I did. For the Lord is my refuge and my strength, and when we meet our maker one day, finally all of this will make sense.
“But until then, we all have the freedom to choose. I'll never force my views upon you, but I'll do my best to show you what I know...”
His poem went on to share a message about the importance of character, kindness and purpose, encouraging his sons to work hard.
“Be accountable,” he added. “It's only right that sometimes you're wrong, and that you learn from your mistakes. You know what? It's even better if you can learn from mine. So go on, ask me anything. It's fine. There's very little in life your dad hasn't tried anyway. That's a letter for another day.”
His two sons also joined him on stage for a hug at the end, which was met with a huge round of applause from the audience. Judges also praised Green’s authenticity and emotional honesty.
Amanda Holden said the performance struck a chord with her: “I have a teenage girl, and all of that meant so much to me. I'm going to watch it back, type it up, frame it and put it in her bedroom, because it meant so much.”
Meanwhile, fellow judge KSI became emotional during his feedback. When he was able to gather his thoughts, he said: “Sorry, that just really hit me. My relationship with my dad isn't always the best, so hearing those words made me think about what I need to improve on. Sonny, you're great, man. I know you're going to be a fantastic dad and I know I need to do better as a son as well.”
The performance culminated in a golden buzzer moment, meaning Green automatically progresses to the final.
