⁠Allu Arjun reacts to fake America’s Got Talent audition tape featuring a song from Pushpa

A cleverly edited America’s Got Talent audition video has taken the internet, especially Tollywood, by surprise. The viral clip appeared to show a dance crew performing to Daako Daako Meka from Pushpa: The Rise, and it was convincing enough to fool none other than Allu Arjun himself, along with his Pushpa team.

The footage, which seemed to be from Season 20 of America’s Got Talent, looked authentic at first glance, with the dancers’ moves perfectly timed to the high-energy track and the judges reacting enthusiastically. It felt like a real moment of international recognition for the film’s music.

America’s Got Talent, known for showcasing all kinds of talent in front of a star-studded judging panel and live audience, has hosted plenty of viral performances over the years. But in this case, what people saw wasn’t quite what it seemed.

The false video went viral after the official Pushpa movie handle posted it on social media, claiming the performance garnered excellent accolades from judges, including Sofia Vergara. Allu Arjun retweeted the video, expressing his awe with the words "Wow... Mind Blowing." However, the footage was entirely manufactured.

Allu Arjun’s reaction to the situation and the truth behind the America’s Got Talent audition

The viral video shared by the official handle of the movie claiming to show B Unique Crew performing to a song from Pushpa on America’s Got Talent quickly made waves online. The post described it as “THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON” and highlighted the song’s supposed global impact. The clip featured high-energy choreography, synced perfectly to music from the hit Telugu film. The audience appeared thrilled, with judges like Sofia Vergara visibly reacting with excitement.

But the video wasn’t real.

His simple "Wow ... Mind Blowing" comment suggested genuine surprise and pride seeing his film's impact reach a global program. When the viral video hit social media, it spread like wildfire thanks in part to a retweet from Pushpa star Allu Arjun. His post gave the edited clip major visibility, reaching millions of fans almost instantly.

But the excitement didn’t last long. It soon came to light that the video wasn’t real. The actor and the film’s official page had unknowingly shared content that had been altered, without checking its source. In reality, B Unique Crew had performed a dynamic routine to Imagine Dragons’ Believer during their America’s Got Talent audition. Their original performance was equally powerful and well-received by the judges. The dancers’ skills were never in doubt.

What fooled so many was the quality of the edit. The creator had expertly swapped the audio with Daako Daako Meka from Pushpa, syncing it so well with the America’s Got Talent group’s moves that it appeared genuine. Even seasoned professionals were misled. The incident raised broader concerns about how quickly misinformation can spread, especially when promoted by high-profile accounts. It also put a spotlight on the lack of content checks across social platforms, where edited videos can go viral before the truth catches up.

What are the implications of digital content verification?

This viral moment isn’t just about one misleading clip, it taps into a much larger concern. With editing software and AI now widely available and increasingly advanced, spotting what’s real and what’s been altered is getting harder by the day. The America’s Got Talent video’s spread shows just how manipulated content can quickly gain traction. It also puts the spotlight on social platforms and content creators, who face growing pressure to implement stronger checks before posts go live.

Celebrities and official pages, in particular, carry major influence. When they share content, it often feels verified by default. This case is a clear reminder that in today’s digital world, even a convincing video may not tell the full story.

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You can watch America’s Got Talent live on NBC (Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET) or stream it the next day on Peacock.

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