The third round of America’s Got Talent Season 17 auditions took off on June 14, 2022. And, as is customary, the four judges, Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Howie Mandel, took their seats at the judgment table and provided the contestants with vital criticism.
However, fans discovered Mandel was missing from the judges’ panel after the first hour of the broadcast.
“Howie Mandel isn’t feeling well, so he won’t be here tonight,” host Terry Crews said.
However, neither he nor the judges or showrunners provided an explanation for his absence. As a result, viewers began to worry, asking, “What Happened to Howie Mandel on America’s Got Talent 2022?”
Mandel was fine, but he was sick with COVID-19 at the time of filming, so he had to take a break. In Howie’s absence, Crews stated that instead of the usual three yeses, contestants would only need two. But it wasn’t necessary because all of the acts received three yeses.
On June 15, 2022, Mandel made a joke about his disappearance by posting on Twitter: “Excuse me, everyone; could you just cover for me tonight?” The auditions were pre-recorded before the Live Shows started, and the judge has since recovered from COVID.
Though Mandel informed his supporters that he was well, several turned to Twitter to voice their fears for his health.
“Miss you Howie,” one admirer wrote. I hope you’re having a great time right now. #AGT @howiemandel.” “Did Howie have anything to do with Covid?” Another person inquired, “Where was this one taped?”
COVID Diagnosis by Howie Mandel
Although the AGT judge did not reveal when he contracted COVID, reports surfaced near the end of April 2022 that Mandel had just been released from quarantine. Mandel told TMZ Live that he was relieved to be out of quarantine and that Covid-19 had a greater impact on his mental health than his physical health. Mandel caught the illness while attending the Kids’ Choice Awards.
He explained that the physical symptoms were not harmful, but the mental health consequences were serious.
“I’m still recovering from the lunacy,” she says. I’m not joking when I say that. I became quite miserable and neurotic. Distracting myself is the only way I can maintain my physical and emotional wellness.
“You can’t keep yourself occupied for ten days in a room,” Mandel continued.
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He went on to say that it was more vital than ever to be susceptible to one’s mental health. The judge has always been honest about his mental health struggles, revealing that he has suffered from severe anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder for the most of his life.
To keep everything under control, he goes to therapy and takes medication, but the best medicine, in his opinion, was the opportunity to talk about it. Mandel stated that talking about his mental health was therapeutic.