Mario Pelchat: There’s Something Cruel About It

I’d invite you to take Samuel and Justine’s seat

On The Voice, a brand-new phase was beginning: the qualifiers. A pivotal moment when each coach must bring three artists from their team onto the stage, have them perform in sequence… and, by the end of the night, choose only two to advance to the next round.

It was Mario Pelchat’s team’s turn to shine under the lights. Samuel and Justine, the inseparable twins, Jordan, the crowd-favorite cowboy, and his niece Maïka Pelchat were among the contenders. A presence that, of course, did not go unnoticed.

Let’s recall that the latter had initially been chosen in Corneille’s team. At the blind auditions, Mario had turned for her, but had chosen to step back to avoid any conflict of interest, since she is family. Later, during the duels, he ultimately stole her, fully embracing his role as coach — while promising to remain impartial.

The Musical Chair!

After each performance, it’s the coach who decides whether the artist deserves to sit on the famous musical chair — a maneuver that adds extra pressure to every turn on stage.

Thus, Mario chose to seat Jordan after his performance, followed by the twins. Maïka, who performed third, found herself in a delicate position: if she delivered a compelling performance and Mario decided to seat her, he would inevitably have to unseat one of the artists already sitting. A strategic dynamic that made the night even more intense.

A Cruel Decision

Well, Mario ultimately chose to keep his niece, Maïka, which meant he had to send home the excellent twins Samuel and Justine. A particularly tough call for the coach, who had to make the call.

“I’d invite you to go take Samuel and Justine’s seats,” he told his niece, just before admitting that there was also a hard, even ungracious, side to this kind of decision.

“Evicting them and putting someone else in their place—there’s something cruel about that.”

Even though his niece continues in the competition, the twins’ departure left the set buzzing with emotion.

A Fair Decision?

One might wonder whether there was any bias behind this choice… or whether, in the end, it all comes down to talent.

It goes without saying that the twins will be missed. Their on-stage chemistry, their camaraderie, and their presence were a joy to witness.

Would you have made the same call as Mario? 👀

Created by humans, assisted by AI.