When Sheyi Omatayo stepped onto The X Factor UK stage in 2012, his energy was infectious. He joked with the host, shared stories about his job at Nando’s, and even mentioned meeting Pixie Lott. The audience laughed, but he didn’t seem nervous — he seemed ready.
Then came his song choice: “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.
The judges smiled politely. The first note hit — and the room changed.
Sheyi’s voice was deep, gravelly, and… unexpected.
The crowd shifted in their seats.
Laughter broke out.
But Sheyi didn’t flinch. He sang harder, louder, pouring every ounce of passion into the song — even as the judges tried to stifle their giggles.
Nicole Scherzinger looked stunned. Gary Barlow hid a smirk. The camera zoomed in on Sheyi’s face — calm, focused, smiling through it all.
When the music stopped, the applause was mixed with awkward chuckles.
Gary spoke first:
“Mate, that was… terrible.”
Nicole added, trying to be kind,
“It’s like your voice has a split personality.”
The crowd laughed again.
But Sheyi? He just laughed with them. “At least you’ll remember me!” he said, grinning from ear to ear.
And he was right.
Though he didn’t make it through, his name — and that wild, fearless performance — went viral. Thousands of fans online praised him for his confidence, his humor, and his refusal to give up, even when the whole room laughed.
Because sometimes, it’s not about winning the competition.
It’s about winning the moment.
And that’s exactly what Sheyi Omatayo did.
