Darius J Wowed the Judges on ‘The Voice’ — so Why Was He Sent Home?

Night one of The Voice Season 27 playoffs began on Monday, with all contestants delivering star-studded performances across the board, leaving Adam Levine and Kelsea Ballerini with tough choices to make heading into the next round. Each judge is required to pick two contestants from their respective team to advance to the Live Shows, where the top eight artists will compete in the Semi-Finals. However, after Levine and Ballerini made their decisions, many fans were left confused about one specific singer who was eliminated.

Despite delivering one of the most thrilling performances of the night, Darius J was not chosen to advance to the Live Shows. His jazzy and soulful version of OutKast’s global hit “Hey Ya!” shocked both the judges and the audience in attendance, but it didn’t seem to be enough to convince Levine or Ballerini to choose him going forward. This came as a surprise to those who tuned into The Voice on Monday night, as it seemed like both judges were beyond satisfied with Darius, and would advocate for him to move onto the next round. Levine, who was Darius’ former coach, specifically praised the uniqueness of his performance, comparing his voice to one of his fellow judges. “There’s only one Darius J … It was so different and so cool. It was almost like ‘Bublé Ya!’ I’m just really proud of you, man, excellent job tonight dude.”

Darius J Gets Eliminated After Impressing the Judges

In addition, Ballerini couldn’t have been more complimentary of Darius, who she used her final steal on during the April 14 episode of The Voice, claiming that she was obsessed with his overall presentation and was positive that America loved him. “I’m like a moth to a flame with you … I’m just so attracted to your artistry. And I wish that I could jump through all the TVs right now and just watch everyone fall in love with you,” she said. “You just make everyone feel like a warm hug.” If Levine and Ballerini’s comments weren’t enough to assure the audience that Darius had a strong chance of advancing to the Live Shows, John Legend compared the 35 year-old’s voice to Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. The judges’ overwhelming praise of Darius and his unique performance continues to beg the question as to why he wasn’t chosen to advance to the Semi-Finals. What did Ballerini see in the other contestants that she didn’t see in Darius? Apparently, it possibly seems to be due to personal preference and song choice.

Adam Levine, Kelsea Ballerini, John Legend, and Michael Bublé pose on stage for 'The Voice' Season 27.

The 10 Contestants I Pick To Win It All On ‘The Voice’ Season 27

Can one of these singers win ‘The Voice’ this season?

Ballerini Appreciated the Modern Day Hits Over Darius J

Instead of Darius, Ballerini advanced Iris Herrera and Alanna Lynise, who both decided to perform modern-day tunes. Herrera, who has gained popularity through her Janis Joplin-esque voice, wowed the judges with her performance of Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse.” On the other hand, Lynise was praised for her version of SZA’s “Nobody Gets Me,” as both contestants shined in the first week of playoffs. Although it seemed shocking that Ballerini wouldn’t select Darius to advance alongside either competitor, unsurprisingly, she decided to pick the contestant who performed a country song and the talent that chose to sing one of the most popular songs of the 2020s.

There’s no doubt that both Herrera and Lynise are talented singers, but the way The Voice judges reacted to Darius’ performance made it seem like he was a lock for the next round. In addition, the audience voiced their frustration with Darius’ elimination after the show, with several fans running to social media to express their appreciation for his singing ability, as well as his personality. Although Darius’ journey seemed to be cut short due to Ballerini preferring singers with a more modern tone, he definitely has the potential to build a brighter future for himself following his elimination.

Despite all the performances on The Voice being impressive, the judges almost seemed to love Darius J’s performance the most, but Ballerini didn’t view her final steal worthy enough to compete in the next round. Darius’ creative mind and unique approach to the competition have unfortunately been left behind, but whether Ballerini made the correct decision or not remains to be seen. Furthermore, if contestants like Herrera and Lynise are unable to impress in the Semi-Finals, Ballerini will likely regret not keeping Darius, who could’ve been a potential winner. The Voice airs Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. All episodes are available to stream on Peacock.