Britain’s Got Talent judge KSI was left visibly shaken and close to tears during the latest semi-final, after an emotional performance that struck a deeply personal chord.
Poet Sonny Green brought the stage to life with a heartfelt piece titled “You’ll Never Be Too Old to Get a Cuddle From Your Dad”, written as a touching letter to his two young sons. As Sonny’s children joined him for a warm embrace at the end of the performance, KSI’s emotions bubbled over.
Viewers watched in awe as the 32-year-old judge fought back tears, his voice trembling as he reflected on his own relationship with his father. “Sonny, that just… it really hit me,” he admitted. “I know my relationship with my dad isn’t always the best, so hearing those words makes me really think about what I need to improve on. I know I need to do better as a son. It really hit me.”
The emotional moment wasn’t just for KSI. Amanda Holden wiped away tears as Sonny recited lines urging kindness, humility, and love: “Buy your mum some flowers, open the door for strangers and do your best to soak up the stress and smile. Even when you ain’t got much left.” Alesha Dixon later shared how deeply affected she was, while Amanda revealed she planned to frame the poem for her teenage daughter’s wall.
Simon Cowell, moved by the performance and KSI’s visible reaction, pressed the Golden Buzzer, sending Sonny straight to the 2026 Britain’s Got Talent final. “You could hear a pin drop,” Simon said. “Genuinely. Sonny, all I can say is, you are gold.”
The moment also spotlighted KSI’s long-shared struggles with his own father. Born Olajide Olayinka Williams ‘JJ’ Olatunji, KSI opened up in his 2023 Amazon Prime documentary KSI: In Real Life about a childhood he described as “loveless.” He confronted his dad, saying: “I don’t think you were that loving. Your dad never hugged you, and then you hardly ever hugged us.”
While he praised his parents for supporting him financially and sending him to private school, KSI admitted he craved more affection and connection. By the documentary’s end, father and son shared a hug—a moment KSI called “weird” but meaningful. “My dad is very standoffish, so to get a hug like that, it was really a moment,” he explained.
Sonny Green’s poignant poem clearly struck a chord for KSI, offering a mirror to his own experiences and leaving both judges and viewers deeply moved. For one night on Britain’s Got Talent, the stage wasn’t just about competition—it was about family, love, and the power of words to heal old wounds.
