amanda with a speech impediment on america's got talent

Amanda Mammana: 5 Things About The Talented Singer With A Speech Impediment On ‘AGT’

Amanda Mammana has one of the most touching 'AGT' auditions ever. Learn more about this 19-year-old standout.

The America’s Got Talent season 17 auditions continue during the July 19 episode, and Amanda Mammana will be taking the stage. The singer’s audition was released ahead of the episode, giving fans a glimpse at this incredible performance .

After her amazing audition, you’re going to be asking: who is Amanda Mammana? The 19-year-old’s audition makes her a force to be reckoned with as the show nears the finals . HollywoodLife has rounded up 5 key things to know about Amanda.

1. Amanda sings an original song for her audition.

Amanda tells the judges that she’s chosen an original song to perform for her AGT audition . She explains that the song is about “hard times and if I could go back and change those things I wouldn’t because they made me… me.” She cries a little before her performance, but it doesn’t hold her back whatsoever.

All the judges give Amanda a standing ovation. She admits that there were times when she was a kid that she felt like she “could never do anything like this.” Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum tear up over Amanda’s emotional performance.  “I thought that was so authentic. Thank you for having the guts to follow your heart,” Sofia tells Amanda.

2. Amanda has a speech impediment.

Amanda tells the judges before her performance that she has a speech impediment. “It was definitely something that caused me to shy away and to hide, but I found that I don’t stutter when I sing,” Amanda says. On her official website , Amanda reveals that she developed a speech impediment when she was 10.

“Once an outgoing kid, I became very shy and insecure. I picked up guitar as a way to escape and singing a couple months later. Music became my safe place,” she said.

3. Amanda has a single that’s out now.

Amanda’s single is titled “Prove You Wrong.” She noted that her song is about “dreaming big. Some people might think you’ll fail. Some might think you’re not good enough. Some might try to tell what’s best. They might tell you no. What you do after, speaks volumes. Will you give up on your dreams or will you prove them wrong?”

4. Amanda now writes songs about the “human condition.”

Amanda initially sang covers, but she wrote on her website that she soon began writing her own material. “I was able to take the pain and turn it into something real and beautiful. Because of the struggles I went through, I was given inspiration to write songs about the human condition,” she said.

5. Amanda is from Connecticut.

Amanda hails from Trumbull, Connecticut. She’s currently a student at Liberty University, according to her LinkedIn profile. She’s majoring in music production.

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See Why Singer Amanda Mammana Made the AGT Judges Cry During Her Audition

You'll probably need a tissue, too. 

It's not often that an  America's Got Talent  Audition garners emotion from everyone on the judging panel. It takes a special talent to get Simon Cowell , Heidi Klum , Howie Mandel , and  Sofia Vergara to all shed some tears. But Connecticut native Amanda Mammana did just that during her powerful Audition, which was released early ahead of July 19th's episode.

How to Watch

Watch the Season 19 premiere of America’s Got Talent Tuesday, May 28 at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock . 

During her introduction, Mammana opened up about living with a speech impediment that makes communicating challenging. Mammana also revealed that when she sings, her impediment goes away. 

"As you can probably tell, I have a bit of a speech impediment," Mammana explained to the Judges. "It was definitely something that caused me to shy away and to hide, but I found that I don't stutter when I sing."

Mammana decided to perform an original song for her Audition, which tends to go well with the Judges. 

"I will be singing a song that I wrote, and it's just about some hard times, and if I could go back and change those things, I wouldn't because they made me, me," she said.

Her performance blew the Judges away. They were so impressed, in fact, that she received a unanimous standing ovation and praise for her stunning talent. (She earned four "yeses," naturally.) 

Mammana also got emotional in response to the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Judges and studio audience. We can't wait to see her take the  AGT stage again soon. 

Watch  AGT   on NBC Tuesdays at 8/7c and next day on  Peacock .  

America's Got Talent

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'AGT': Amanda Mammana, a Singer-Songwriter With a Speech Impediment, Blows Away the Judges

Jul. 19 2022, Published 11:43 a.m. ET

A 19-year-old from Connecticut is about to make her debut on Season 17 of America's Got Talent .

Amanda Mammana is a singer-songwriter who discovered a while ago that she can sing without having to manage the symptoms of her speech impediment. A talented composer and guitar player, Amanda is now ready to show the world just how skilled she is on America's Got Talent .

Season 17, Episode 8 of 'America's Got Talent' introduces viewers to performers like Amanda Mammana.

Amanda will make her first appearance in Season 17, Episode 8 of America's Got Talent , alongside a large group of seasoned performers. As a promo released ahead the episode airing on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, suggests, it took Amanda less than the span of seconds to impress the judges, proving that she has everything it takes to become a real star.

During the initial interview, Amanda told judges Simon Cowell , Sofía Vergara , Heidi Klum , and Howie Mandel that her speech impediment caused her to feel ashamed — and then she discovered singing.

"As you can probably tell, I have a bit of a speech impediment. And, it was definitely something that caused me to shy away and to hide. But I found that I that I don't stutter when I sing," Amanda told the judges before she performed.

She later added: "I will be singing a song that I wrote. It's just about some hard times and if I could go back and change those things, I wouldn't, because they made me me."

For the audition, Amanda chose a song recounting the ambivalent experiences she has had because of the speech impediment. With the lyrics, she alludes to the complications she has managed to overcome. The lyrics include metaphors like opening a door and losing the keys to a box, for instance. With the song, she celebrates her ability to tackle self-doubt, among other things.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amanda Mammana (@amanda_mammana)

"I still remember that kid wanting to be more. But now she knows she is worth more than what she has been told. She tried her best to be the best and just forget the rest," Amanda sang. "But the rest is the best and it's what you get, so just let go. But what if I could go back in time and change the way I felt about my life? Oh but then would I, still have inside, everything that brought me back to life?"

"There were times when I was a kid when I was like, like I can never do anything like this, like I'm not good enough," Amanda told the judges.

"Good enough doesn't explain what we've just heard," Howie said. "It's not only good, it's great. Look how you are moving this audience. I believe you are moving millions of people, right now."

Amanda impressed every one of the judges. She received four yeses, allowing her to join the competition. Just how far will she go? Catch new episodes of AGT Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on NBC to find out.

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Latest America's Got Talent News and Updates

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America’s Got Talent: Meet Amanda Mammana, the singer with a speech impediment

Tuesday night’s episode continues the Season 17 auditions on America’s Got Talent , and fans were given a sneak peek at one singer’s incredible performance.

Taking the stage is 19-year-old Amanda Mammana. She stands with her guitar as she introduces herself to the judges.

Before her performance, she tells the judges about her impediment, revealing, “It was definitely something that caused me to shy away and to hide, but I found that I don’t stutter when I sing.”

Viewers could see some skeptical looks come across the judge’s faces before she began, particularly Simon Cowell, as he said, “I hope she’s good.”

Sofia Vergara seemed to have more confidence, and Amanda was cheered on by audience members as she began her touching and magical performance.

Who is Amanda Mammana on America’s Got Talent?

Amanda told the judges that she is 19 and from Connecticut, but her website tells much more of the story.

Her website tells readers that she first developed her speech impediment when she was ten years old.

While she had been a rather outgoing child, the impediment caused her a lot of insecurity, and she began to shy away from others and even experienced anxiety and depression.

However, she found herself through music throughout the years as she joined her school’s worship band in seventh grade and later joined her church’s band as well.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amanda Mammana (@amanda_mammana)

Right now, she has a single out called Prove You Wrong. She says the single is “about dreaming big. Some people might think you’ll fail. Some might think you’re not good enough. Some might try to tell what’s best. They might tell you no. What you do after, speaks volumes. Will you give up on your dreams or will you prove them wrong?”

She writes her own original songs and shares music and videos on her website.

She admitted during her audition that she still struggles with feelings of not being good enough— but she proved to the judges on AGT that she’s more than good enough.

Watch Amanda Mammana’s touching performance on America’s Got Talent

In the sneak peek of her audition, viewers see her emotional introduction and beautiful performance of a personal song about going through some of the hard times in her life.

At the end, viewers watch Amanda walk away with four yeses from the judges.

America’s Got Talent airs on Tuesday nights at 8/7c on NBC.

• Americas Got Talent

Amanda Mammana Conquers Speech Impediment, Sings Original Song on ‘America’s Got Talent’

by Tina Benitez-Eves July 20, 2022, 10:01 am

Before auditioning for America’s Got Talent , singer Amanda Mammana told the judges about her speech impediment. “As you can probably tell, I have a speech impediment,” said the singer. “It was definitely something that caused me to shy away and to hide, but I found that I don’t stutter when I sing.”

Videos by American Songwriter

The 19-year-old Connecticut resident went on to perform one of her original songs. “I will be singing a song that I wrote, and it’s just about some hard times,” shared Mammana, “and if I could go back and change those things, I wouldn’t because they made me, me.”

Ready with her acoustic guitar, Mammana began performing the self-reflective ballad, singing, But what if I could go back in time / And change the way, I felt about my life / Oh, but then would I, still have inside / Everything that brought me back to life .

Following her performance, Mammana began crying as she received a standing ovation from all four judges, who were all visibly moved by the singer, along with the studio audience. Judge Howie Mandel noticed Mammana crying and asked her what she was feeling. “There was a time when I was a kid when I thought I could never do anything like this,” shared Mammana. “I’m not good enough.” An audience member yelled to Mammana, “You are good enough.”

Mandel continued, “Good enough doesn’t explain what we just heard. It’s not only good. It’s great. And look how you’re moving this audience, and I believe you’re moving millions of people right now, at home. I just want to say thank you.”

Judge Heidi Klum added, “I really love your voice. There’s a fire inside of you, and I want to see more of it.” Sofía Vergara then stated, “I thought that was so authentic. Thank you for having the guts to follow your heart.”

Simon Cowell also praised the singer’s vocals and songwriting ability. “Your voice is so pure, so beautiful, and you’re a good songwriter,” said Cowell. “I think you’re an incredible person. I’m so happy you came here.”

Currently a student at Liberty University majoring in music production, Mammana grew up in Trumbull, Connecticut, and revealed that she first developed the speech impediment when she was 10, on her official website . “Once an outgoing kid, I became very shy and insecure,” said the singer on her site. “I picked up guitar as a way to escape and singing a couple months later. Music became my safe place.”

Initially singing covers, Mammana soon started writing her own songs and has released three singles, including “Prove You Wrong” in 2021 and “Bigger Man” and “Worth the Waiting,” both released in 2022.

“I was able to take the pain and turn it into something real and beautiful,” said the singer on her website. “Because of the struggles I went through, I was given inspiration to write songs about the human condition.”

Photos: Trae Patton / NBC

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Budding musician with speech impediment shares about life after ‘America’s Got Talent’

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February 14, 2023 : By Ryan Klinker - Office of Communications & Public Engagement

In the months since she surprised the judges and audience of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” with her abilities as a gifted singer-songwriter who has overcome a speech impediment, Liberty University sophomore Amanda Mammana has continued to be an example of how God can use what we perceive as weaknesses for His glory.

Mammana has a stutter, but like many people like her, the stutter isn’t apparent when she sings, as singing involves a different section of the brain. She was drawn to music as a helpful means of communicating her thoughts and feelings.

Last April, after flying from her hometown of Trumbull, Conn., to her audition in Pasadena, Calif., Mammana sat backstage as the realization hit her of what was about to happen.

“I did some interviews and B-roll for the show, and the whole time I was realizing, ‘This is really happening. I’m here,’” she recalled. “When I was backstage, I could hear the audience, I could hear (host) Terry Crews talking, and then I walked out on the stage and saw the four judges there. It felt crazy.”

With her guitar hanging on her shoulder and her father watching backstage, Mammana answered the judges’ questions with her natural pauses and speech disfluencies. But that all went away when she began to perform her original song, “Back to Life.” By the end, every person in the room was on their feet cheering, a moment that Mammana said confirmed to her that her stutter should not hold her back.

“For so long, because of my speech, I always felt ashamed and like I could never be anything or do anything,” Mammana said. “When I finished and they all stood up, it made me realize that my speech doesn’t have to be a handicap if I don’t let it. My whole perspective of myself and on God changed. I used to shake my fist at God because He was allowing me to have this speech impediment, but (being on the show) opened my eyes and allowed me to see that He has allowed it for good reasons.”

Her audition for the show has been seen by over 7 million people on YouTube and countless others on other platforms. She reached the semifinals, which aired in August, and made it to the top five of her episode before being eliminated.

Mammana enrolled at Liberty in the fall semester of 2021 and switched to online classes in the Spring 2022 leading up to her audition. She took the Fall 2022 semester off from Liberty to open herself up to opportunities after the show and spent the rest of 2022 performing at a variety of venues. Just a few days after her time on the show ended, Mammana performed in her home state at CityFest, a Christian music festival, on the same lineup as Liberty graduate TobyMac. along with Lecrae, We Are Messengers, and others. She later performed at halftime of the Miami Dolphins game on Oct. 16 and during a FOX News broadcast in December. She has also released multiple singles and an instrumental EP available on all major music streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music .

Most recently, Mammana spent a weekend opening for Christian artist Jason Gray — a stutterer himself — and plans to perform at two festivals with him this summer.

Mammana has received countless messages from people online who have speech impediments and saw her on the show, and she was invited to perform at the National Stuttering Association’s conference this summer.

Her speech impediment and passion for music both developed at the age of 10. After performing in a school talent show and later receiving positive feedback when she posted a video of her playing an original song on social media, Mammana said she started seeing music as a potential career.

“I signed up for my school’s talent show to sing, and up on the stage I felt so free,” she said. “When I saw the people saying they liked my video, I thought that maybe it could be something I could do for a career, and I also thought I could encourage people with my music.”

This led Mammana to eventually choose to study music and, after hearing from friends about the high caliber of Liberty’s School of Music programs, enroll at Liberty in the B.M. in Commercial Music – Recording, Engineering, and Producing program.

When she’s not on Liberty’s campus, Mammana has had a variety of opportunities to perform her music and work on an album that she plans to release at the start of next year.

Since “America’s Got Talent,” Mammana said she has learned to trust in God’s plan for her life and career.

“I’m someone that likes to try and control the future, but it never works out when we try to do things on our own,” she said. “I think being on (the show) helped me learn to let things go and to surrender them to the Lord, and having that time to myself helped me to trust God more. I had to lean on Him and know that He is in control.”

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Trumbull teen overcomes speech impediment to sing on 'America's Got Talent'

At a young age, amanda mammana not only wanted to play guitar, she also wanted to sing. but it was harder than it sounds. amanda mammana has a stutter..

Sep 23, 2022, 2:19 AM

Updated 565 days ago

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Amanda Mammana Leaves The Judges Jaw Dropped in ‘AGT’ Early Release

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Amanda Mammana has secured America’s Got Talent ‘s early release spot ahead of Tuesday night’s episode. This 19 year old singer moves the judges with her powerful original song.

Amanda Mammana takes the stage with her guitar in her early release audition. As soon as she’s on the stage, Amanda reveals her age and where she’s from. She then goes on to explain that she has a speech impediment that caused her to be shy, until she discovered that she doesn’t stutter while she sings. To show off her voice, she brought an original song about hard times to the stage.

Amanda’s song began lightly, but her talent clearly radiated through. Her vocals and original song had each of the judges jaw dropped throughout the entire performance. All four judges gave this singer a standing ovation. Once they sat down, Howie Mandel asked Amanda why she was emotional, in which she explained that she didn’t think she was good enough.

“Good enough doesn’t explain what we just heard, it’s not only good, it’s great,” Mandel said. “Look how you’re moving this audience. I believe you’re moving millions of people right now at home. I just want to say thank you.”

Each judge complimented her performance, explaining that she’s extremely authentic on stage. At the end of the early release audition, she earned four yeses. Amanda is moving on to the next round of America’s Got Talent . We can’t wait to see what else she brings to the stage this season.

Who is Amanda Mammana?

Amanda considers herself to be a “multi-talented free spirit” within her website. On the about page, the singer explains that her speech impediment developed at the age of 10. Around that time, she became shy and insecure. She picked up the guitar as a way to escape, but it quickly became her safe place. She noted practicing a lot until she could play and sing at the same time. While she was in seventh grade, she joined her school’s worship band and later joined her church’s worship band.

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She picked up songwriting later in life to once again battle her demons. While she enjoyed performing covers, the singer notes that she enjoys writing her personal experiences into songs. At this time, Amanda has three singles released to streaming. She currently has 20 monthly listeners on Spotify, 212 subscribers on YouTube, and 1,004 followers on Instagram. I think it’s only a matter of time until her social media accounts blow up. She was breathtaking on the America’s Got Talent stage, so I’m sure she will earn a loyal following very soon.

Tune into America’s Got Talent to see Amanda’s audition and more this Tuesday.

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A talent competition where participants possessing some form of talent from the US and abroad, aim to impress the audience and judges, Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara.

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‘AGT’ contestant who stutters brings down the house with an emotional performance

A teenager who stutters put on a performance for the ages on “America’s Got Talent.”

Amanda Mammana, 19, performed an original song while playing the guitar after she informed the judges about her speech impediment while filling them in on her name, age and where she lives.

“As you can probably tell, I have a bit of a speech impediment and it was definitely something that caused me to shy away and to hide, but I found that I don’t stutter when I sing,” the Connecticut native said in a clip of the performance that was released by NBC ahead of Tuesday’s episode.

“I will be singing a song that I wrote, and it’s just about some hard times, and if I could go back and change those things, I wouldn’t because they made me, me,” she said.

Her performance of a slow song earned her a standing ovation from the audience and the judges, while she was moved to tears. After Mammana finished her audition, she explained that there were times she felt like she wasn’t good enough while growing up.

“You are good enough,” someone from the audience shouted, prompting a round of applause.

The judges couldn’t have agreed more.

“Good enough doesn’t explain what we just heard,” Howie Mandel said. “It’s not only good, it’s great. And look how you’re moving this audience. And I believe you’re moving millions of people right now at home. I just want to say thank you.”

“You have a really, really beautiful voice. I love your voice,” Heidi Klum said. “There is a fire inside of you, and I want to see more of it.”

“I loved it. I thought it was so authentic. Thank you for having the guts to follow your heart,” Sofia Vergara said.

Simon Cowell was equally impressed.

“You spoke to us very honestly about the issues you have with your speech, and it’s terrifying auditioning when you don’t have an issue like that,” he said. “And then you’re amazing. Your voice is so pure, so beautiful. And also you’re a good songwriter. And I think you’re an incredible person.”

After feedback like that, it was no surprise to hear each judge gave her a “yes.” You can see Mammana’s performance on Tuesday’s episode at 8 p.m. ET.

Drew Weisholtz is a reporter for TODAY Digital, focusing on pop culture, nostalgia and trending stories. He has seen every episode of “Saved by the Bell” at least 50 times, longs to perfect the crane kick from “The Karate Kid” and performs stand-up comedy, while also cheering on the New York Yankees and New York Giants. A graduate of Rutgers University, he is the married father of two kids who believe he is ridiculous.

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'AGT' Contestant Who Stutters Puts On Emotional Performance

A teenager who stutters put on a performance for the ages on “America’s Got Talent.”

Amanda Mammana, 19, performed an original song while playing the guitar after she informed the judges about her speech impediment while filling them in on her name, age and where she lives.

“As you can probably tell, I have a bit of a speech impediment and it was definitely something that caused me to shy away and to hide, but I found that I don’t stutter when I sing,” the Connecticut native said in a clip of the performance that was released by NBC ahead of Tuesday’s episode.

“I will be singing a song that I wrote, and it’s just about some hard times, and if I could go back and change those things, I wouldn’t because they made me, me,” she said.

Her performance of a slow song earned her a standing ovation from the audience and the judges, while she was moved to tears. After Mammana finished her audition, she explained that there were times she felt like she wasn’t good enough while growing up.

“You are good enough,” someone from the audience shouted, prompting a round of applause.

The judges couldn’t have agreed more.

“Good enough doesn’t explain what we just heard,” Howie Mandel said. “It’s not only good, it’s great. And look how you’re moving this audience. And I believe you’re moving millions of people right now at home. I just want to say thank you.”

“You have a really, really beautiful voice. I love your voice,” Heidi Klum said. “There is a fire inside of you, and I want to see more of it.”

“I loved it. I thought it was so authentic. Thank you for having the guts to follow your heart,” Sofia Vergara said.

Simon Cowell was equally impressed.

“You spoke to us very honestly about the issues you have with your speech, and it’s terrifying auditioning when you don’t have an issue like that,” he said. “And then you’re amazing. Your voice is so pure, so beautiful. And also you’re a good songwriter. And I think you’re an incredible person.”

After feedback like that, it was no surprise to hear each judge gave her a “yes.” You can see Mammana’s performance on Tuesday’s episode at 8 p.m. ET.

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• Season 17 Accepted Acts
• Female Singers
• Season 17 Male Singers
• Instrumentalists
• Season 17 Instrumentalists
• Semifinalists
• Season 17 Semifinalists

Amanda Mammana

• View history

Amanda Mammana was a singer and guitarist from Season 17 of America's Got Talent . She finished in the Top 5 of her Semifinal week.

• 1 Background
• 3 Deliberations
• 4 Semifinals
• 5 External Links

Background [ ]

Amanda is from Trumbull, Connecticut and attends Liberty University. She suffers from a speech impediment.

Audition [ ]

Amanda Mammana's audition in Episode 1707 consisted of playing the guitar and singing an original song telling the story of her difficult childhood. All 4 judges voted "Yes", sending her to the next round.

Deliberations [ ]

Amanda was selected to advance to the Semifinals.

Semifinals [ ]

Amanda Mammana's Semifinals performance in Episode 1714 consisted of singing her original song "Worth Fighting For". She received enough votes to enter the Top 5 of the night in Episode 1715 instead of XOMG Pop and Funkanometry , but did not receive enough votes to enter the Top 3, eliminating her from the competition along with Hayden Kristal instead of Nicolas RIBS , Celia Muñoz and Sara James .

External Links [ ]

• 1 Golden Buzzer
• 2 Geneviève Côté
• 3 Angelina Green

AMANDA MAMMANA

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT SEMI-FINALIST. MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST SINGER/SONGWRITER.

[email protected]

An open letter to America's Got Talent: Stop praising the stigma

Last week, a singer-songwriter who stammered wowed the judges on America's Got Talent and went viral. But US-based speech & language pathologist Courtney Margulis took issue with the clip and wrote this blog post to explain why.

When I first saw Amanda Mammana perform on America's Got Talent (AGT) last week, I was hooked. As a person who stutters, and blocks in a similar way as Amanda, it was surreal seeing someone on national television (and now a viral video) talking the way I do. But at the same time, I had a sickening feeling in my stomach. I felt used, abused, misunderstood and pitied. Here's why:

(Firstly, this post is not about Amanda. It's about how stuttering is portrayed in the media. Amanda is a talented singer-songwriter.)

Problem #1: 

The title of the video.

The YouTube clip is titled, ' Singer With Speech Impediment Moves the Judges to Tears '.

I say stuttering is a difference, not an impediment. Yes, it's hard to stutter, and for some it can certainly feel like an impediment, but that doesn't give society the right to call it an impediment. This slight change of semantics actually makes a big difference. Impediment is defined as 'a hindrance or obstruction in doing something'. Stuttering influences talking, and the avoidances associated with it might become a hindrance as the person who stutters avoids situations, changes words and subsequently has a negative life impact associated with stuttering. The stuttering itself only becomes a hindrance because society makes it that way.

Words like impediment only perpetuate the stigma and keep the vicious cycle moving forward. Stuttering is one of the few differences that still seems to be okay to patronise. Why can't we just use the word stutter? Or why even point it out at all? 

Let's substitute speech impediment with some other phrases:

'Singer With Depression Moves the Judges to Tears' 'Overweight Singer Moves the Judges to Tears' 'Short Singer Moves the Judges to Tears' 'Singer With Deformed Face Moves the Judges to Tears 'Immigrant Singer Moves the Judges to Tears' 'Singer with One Leg Moves the Judges to Tears'

I ask you — why is it necessary to point out that part of the person? Is it really relevant? The answer is no, it's not relevant at all. 

When Amanda shares, "I don't stutter when I sing," everyone cheers. Of course you don't stutter when you sing, just like a limp in your leg doesn't impact your ability to type on a computer.

Problem #2: 

Speaking and singing are two different tasks .

My friend and stuttering advocate, Marc Winski, compared the title to the following: Man with terrible limp brings the judges to tears when he types at his computer'. That doesn't make sense, I thought. Those are two completely different skills — why would that move the judges to tears?

Then I literally laughed out loud.

That is exactly what's happening here. Singing and speaking are two completely different tasks. Yes, people who stutter don't stutter when they sing¹. Period. No overcoming, no hard work, just a cold, hard scientific fact. 

When Amanda shares, "I don't stutter when I sing," everyone cheers. Of course you don't stutter when you sing, just like a limp in your leg doesn't impact your ability to type on a computer. 

The line gets blurred because speaking and singing both come from the voice. But stuttering is actually not a voice or speech motor disorder. It's a complicated, intertwining of motor, cognitive, psychological and temperamental factors². Stuttering is variable³. It's not consistent. Sometimes we're fluent and sometimes we're not.

AGT chooses to call it a speech impediment, not a singing impediment, for good reason. Amanda does not have any impediment in singing that she suddenly 'overcame' by coming on AGT.

Problem #3: 

The microaggressions.

A microaggression is defined⁴ as "the everyday slights, indignities, put downs and insults that people of colour, women, LGBT populations or those who are marginalised experience in their day-today interactions with people." This is a great video describing the concept in more detail . Even well-intended compliments can be microaggressions and they can significantly impact mental health. 

Examples of microaggressions in Amanda's AGT video include: 

• The body language of the judges and audience (jaws dropping, eyes bulging, crying, shocked faces). What exactly were they reacting to? Because she only sang a few notes by the time these reactions occurred, it's safe to assume that they were reacting to the transition from stuttered and struggled speech to fluent and 'beautiful' singing. 
• Expressions such as "Oh my gosh that's incredible!" What's incredible? If you truly thought that her songwriting and singing ability warrant the word 'incredible', great. I'm not referring to you. But if like me, you thought she was a terrific singer and talented songwriter, but you've heard better singer-songwriters, why are we using the word incredible? 

At the end of the clip, we have two different experiences happening simultaneously. Amanda is crying for what to me seems like pride and accomplishment. She got the opportunity to do something she never thought she could do — share her talent with a national audience. The audience seems to be reacting to the 'inspiring' way she found to 'overcome' her stuttering (singing).

Microaggressions disguised as compliments abound in the YouTube comments: 

"It's absolutely remarkable how she escaped her impediment when singing."

"Don't talk for the rest of your life. Sing for the rest of your life."

"She reminds me that we all have the ability to overcome adversities. And, we are not defined or governed by conditions that try to limit us. She embodies courage. What an inspiration."

Representation is good, but if it's not portrayed in the right way, it can backfire... hard. 

Amanda is brave for showing up, stuttering openly, and introducing herself as a person who stutters without knowing how others would react. She is not brave or courageous for being fluent when she sings. 

Bravery is defined as "ready to face and endure danger or pain". We who stutter have to be brave because stuttering in our society can have negative consequences. Amanda is brave for showing up, stuttering openly, and introducing herself as a person who stutters without knowing how others would react. She is not brave or courageous for being fluent when she sings. 

Society makes stuttering brave.

But stuttering shouldn't be considered brave, just like any other way of talking or walking or being shouldn't be considered brave. We have little control over whether we stutter a lot or are completely fluent. It's just a different way of talking. It doesn't warrant praise. 

Problem #4: The portrayal of stuttering in the media still sucks 

The 'overcome' narrative is all over the place. Stella Young, who coined the term 'inspiration porn', titled her TED talk  'I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much' . She describes herself as "a comedian and journalist who happens to go about her day in a wheelchair — a fact that doesn't automatically turn me into a noble inspiration to all humanity". She refers to inspiration porn as "the objectification of people with disabilities in media, which serves the purpose of making the consumers, people without disabilities, feel good." One type of inspiration porn is when a person with a disability 'overcomes' their disability in order to participate in a particular activity. In this case, it's Amanda 'overcoming' her stuttering in order to sing. AbleSC describes it nicely — "it makes us feel extra special, when we just want to be considered normal". 

The problem is, inspiration porn sells. People want to see others overcome their struggle. So the narrative persists. 

Bridgerton is a good example of how this narrative sells. Simon, the main character, is characterised on the show as a man who has overcome his childhood stutter with hard work. In the book, Simon's stutter returns intermittently and he must either change his words, avoid talking, or pretend to clear his throat to avoid "tripping over his words" and maintain his status in society.

I want to get to a place where stuttering is normalised in the media. Where we can have a character who is both handsome, confident AND stutters. You do not have to overcome your stuttering to be beautiful. But until we stop equating stuttering with sadness, pity, less-than, or not confident, we will not be able to get past this narrative. 

You do not have to overcome your stuttering to be beautiful. But until we stop equating stuttering with sadness, pity, less-than, or not confident, we will not be able to get past this narrative. 

I've always found it interesting to compare stuttering with weight. There are many differences between the two, but I keep coming back to this analogy because we can learn a lot from how this narrative has changed over time. We have a long way to go, but we are starting to accept that women can be both overweight and beautiful. The message we got for so long was "you can do it!", "You can lose the weight and then you will be sexy and desirable!". With the help of role models like Lizzo, there is increasing representation that weight is just a cultural construct — you don't have to be skinny to be beautiful. 

In the same vein, you do not have to be fluent to be beautiful. But yet, stuttering is still portrayed as something that when overcome, is truly inspirational. This message is communicated loud and clear in Amanda's video, when the pity and tears turn to shock and inspiration when she starts to sing. 

Back to the title — Amanda is referred to as a "singer with a speech impediment" because that is the part that is inspirational. That's the happy story. If we were truly inspired by her songwriting or singing ability there would be no reason to title this video as such. Did you even hear her lyrics? Listen to her voice? Or were you just in awe of how fluent she was when she sang? We don't want to just be listened to, we want to be heard . 

As I was scrolling through the comments on the YouTube video, this one jumped out at me: 

"The emotional and moving aspect almost makes us overlook that she's also an outstanding songwriter, singer and performer."

Why can't stuttering be beautiful? Why is it only beautiful when it's overcome?

It's time to normalise stuttering instead of praising the stigma.

What do you think about Courtney's piece? If you'd like to write your own article, email us at [email protected] Read more Your Voice opinion pieces .

This piece is taken from Courtney's post 'An open letter to America's Got Talent: It's time to normalize stuttering instead of praising the stigma' from her blog  'Courting Courage' , dated 23rd July 2022.

• Andrews, G., Howie, P. M., Dozsa, M., & Guitar, B. E. (1982). Stuttering: Speech pattern characteristics under fluency-enhancing conditions. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 25(2), 208-216.
• Smith, A. & Weber, C. (2017). How stuttering develops: The multifactorial dynamic pathways model. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 60(9), 2483-2505. 
• Tichenor, S. E. & Yaruss, J. S. (2021). Variability of stuttering: Behavior and impact. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 30(1), 75-88. 
• Sue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., Torino, G. C., Bucceri, J. M., Holder, A. M., Nadal, K. L., Esquilin, M. (2007). Racial microaggressions in everyday life: Implications for clinical practice, American Psychologist, 62(4), 271-286.

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The nationwide university protests against Israel’s action in Gaza are a defining moment for Gen Z

What makes a generation? It’s not their mercurial takes on jean length and rise; what corny emojis they choose; or even what they eat, drink, and watch—at least that’s not the main gist of it. Rather, it’s about how a cohort of like-aged people choose to respond to the sociopolitical events around them. 

And Gen Z are in just such a defining moment, as thousands of college students protest against the institutional backing of Israel, which continues to strike Gaza , causing devastation and killing more than 30,000 people, mostly women and children . After decades of occupation , Israel launched its current campaign in Gaza after a Hamas-led militant group attacked several Israeli bases and civilian communities on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in over a thousand deaths and hundreds of people captured.

Recently, the pressure between U.S. school administrations and students has come to a head after Columbia University president Minouche Shafik authorized the NYPD to clear out the campus’s encampment of students protesting the war in Gaza. Last week, hundreds of students began to camp out on the university’s main lawn, calling for it to divest from Israel. 

“I took this extraordinary step because these are extraordinary circumstances,” Shafik said in a statement . “The individuals who established the encampment violated a long list of rules and policies.” She claimed that the demonstration “severely disrupts campus life, and creates a harassing and intimidating environment for many of our students.”

HAPPENING NOW: Columbia students have formed a human chain around the Palestine solidarity encampment at Columbia University pic.twitter.com/ZX6FXwqrR5 — BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) April 18, 2024

lmao Cal Poly Humboldt students don't PLAY! pic.twitter.com/2Ib5wqRSXT — Joni (@poetryc0mmunity) April 23, 2024

Known as the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, the sit-in is still taking place despite Shafik’s recent involvement of the police, which led to the subsequent arrest of 100 people . As the semester winds down, protestors don’t seem to be going anywhere —and Columbia has since implemented a hybrid model for the remainder of the school year, so students can avoid the demonstrations if they so choose. 

“Columbia has shown over and over again that they don’t care about student rights, they don’t care about student voices, they don’t care about student safety,” Aidan Parisi, a pro-Palestianian protesters, told CBS . 

Columbia’s administration issued a deadline for protestors in the encampment to leave the premises and has since pushed it back by 48 hours to speak with campus representatives. 

“I felt like I had to take a stand,” Isra Hirsi, daughter of Ilhan Omar and student at Barnard College who was arrested and barred from campus after protesting, told Time . “It’s a moment for everybody. It’s important for all of us as students at prestigious universities to really shed light on what is going on.” 

Last session of my “Spatial Exclusion and Planning” class with amazing students and colleagues at the students’ “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” @Columbia ✊🏽🤍 @ColumbiaGSAPP @gsapp_planning pic.twitter.com/z646kalewF — Hiba Bou Akar (@hibabouakar) April 23, 2024

Similar demonstrations have cropped up across the country in response to Shafik’s actions against what the NYPD itself called peaceful protests . While clashes might be centered at Columbia, the whole unfolding has caused a ripple effect . Students from Yale, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and other universities have set up similar encampments; some, like Harvard University and Miami University, are staging walkouts. Dozens of students have been arrested at Yale, and hundreds of protestors, both faculty and undergrads, were arrested at New York University. 

Happening right now – Students for Palestine are starting an occupation of Sydney University. Acting as they can to try and stop a genocide, and acting at an institution that shamelessly benefits from weapons $$$ pic.twitter.com/QSCWUhpTK3 — David Shoebridge (@DavidShoebridge) April 23, 2024

BREAKING: USC STUDENTS START GAZA SOLIDARITY OCCUPATION THIS MORNING Colleges around the country are rising up for justice in Palestine! USC Divest From Death Coalition has announced their occupation of USC's Alumni Park. LOS ANGELES GET HERE NOW! Students need your support! pic.twitter.com/nMnZhdFDSS — People's City Council – Los Angeles (@PplsCityCouncil) April 24, 2024

The pot continues to boil as barricades that impede protestors from gathering crop up at NYU —and California State Polytechnic University students create their own barricade inside a campus building. It’s gone global, as Australian students at Sydney University join in calling on their institution to divest.

NYPD is arresting peaceful protesters at NYU campus (among them faculty member professor @sinanantoon ) pic.twitter.com/U17xOOHvCD — Jamil Dakwar (@jdakwar) April 23, 2024

…and the tents are up at UC Berkeley pic.twitter.com/BIqvWvBFmg — MIR (Everyone for Everyone) (@MarxNetwork) April 22, 2024

Some counterprotests have cropped up as well. Outside the gates of Columbia, alumni, people not related to the campus, and even Rudy Giuliani have made their opinions about the on-campus protests known. But as students note, what’s happening on the inside is a more peaceful representation of discourse than the cultural war that is forming over the Ivy League’s actions.

Many say administrations’ actions are encroaching on free speech, while others claim they’re enabling anti-Semitism. “What we are witnessing in and around campus is terrible and tragic,” said Elie Buechler , rabbi for Columbia and Barnard’s Hillel, who directed students to go home and claimed Columbia and the NYPD “cannot guarantee Jewish students’ safety in the face of extreme anti-Semitism and anarchy.” 

Despite allegations to the contrary, many of the protestors have expressed that their desire to fight for divestment is not attached to anti-Semitism. Many protestors who are Jewish are pushing back against the conflation of Zionism and their religion. Demonstrators have distanced their cause from anti-Semitism, as Columbia University Apartheid Divest and Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine released a statement that non-student protestors at the campus door are “inflammatory individuals who do not represent us,” adding, “We firmly reject any form of hate or bigotry and stand vigilant against non-students attempting to disrupt the solidarity being forged among students.”

“What’s clear from spending time at these protests is that there isn’t one unified, monolithic Jewish voice,” said NPR reporter Jasmine Garsd after speaking to Columbia students.

It’s become an issue of free speech, as academics have become involved. More than 1,400 academics issued an open letter stating that they would boycott future Columbia events if top officials like Shafik did not resign and remove NYPD from campus. Some faculty walked out in support of protestors with signs that called for “hands off our students.”

“I think we all have to speak out because none of us are safe until all of us are safe,” Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, associate professor at the University of New Hampshire, told the Columbia Spectator . “And the tactics that are being used at Columbia University can very well be used at any of our institutions, so we need to defend academic freedom right now because it’s on the line at Columbia.” 

Massive faculty walkout at @Columbia opposing the university’s decision to call in NYPD on Palestine solidarity protests: pic.twitter.com/DcCSxObtx9 — Bassam Khawaja (@Bassam_Khawaja) April 22, 2024

At an Earth Day event, President Biden touched on the concentric circles of protests. “I condemn the anti-Semitic protests,” he said . “I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”

College students protesting against institutions is by no means a new story. But now it’s Gen Z’s turn to carry the torch, passed on by advocates from generations before them. Youth activism is baked into the nation’s democracy, especially in colleges. It has led to important, notable events like the Fisk University protests, wherein students pushed back against Jim Crow–era racial discrimination, or the Kent State University protests, where students rallying against the Vietnam War led to Ohio’s National Guard killing four students and wounding nine others.

Columbia itself has a history of student advocacy that stretches back decades , CBS News points out. Boomers mobilized as part of the 1968 Vietnam War protests, which police disbanded after a week. Gen Xers held antiapartheid protests in 1984 where students also called for divestment from South Africa. And millennials and older Gen Zers pushed back on the university’s policy on sexual assault in 2014 and climate change in 2019. 

“Protests have a storied history at Columbia and are an essential component of free speech in America and on our campus,” said Shafik, who recently has received pressure regarding an Congressional investigation of anti-Semitism on campus. But she claimed that the campus protest policy was not being upheld by those in the encampment. “The current encampment violates all of the new policies, severely disrupts campus life, and creates a harassing and intimidating environment for many of our students.”

UT Austin right now. Protesters and DPS in a standoff on the main drag of campus pic.twitter.com/OipxvXDbWC — Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 24, 2024

Even so, the NYPD seems to offer a different account of said demonstrators. “To put this in perspective, the students that were arrested were peaceful, offered no resistance whatsoever, and were saying what they wanted to say in a peaceful manner,” Chief John Chell told the Spectator .  

Pro-Palestine Gen Zers seemingly remain resolute despite their institutions’ pushback. “It’s easy to look back at history and look back at the moral and political conflicts that have gripped the country and the world throughout history and discern what side you would have liked to have been on,” Elijah Bacal, a student and member of Yale Jews for Ceasefire, told ABC News . “But the hard thing is to, in the moment, seize on those opportunities to do the right thing and have the courage to stand up for what you think and know is right. I think we are on the right side of history here.”

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