‘The Best Season Ending’: Viewers React to the ‘Epic’ Finale of ‘The Masked Singer’ Season 12

The tension was palpable as host Nick Cannon, who donned an all-white outfit, stood on a glittering, holiday-themed stage to announce the winner of Season 12.

Flanked by dazzling golden and red holiday decorations, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. The judges — Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Rita Ora, and Robin Thicke — stood next to each other, visibly on edge as the results were revealed.

“The votes are in!” declared the host, his voice charged with excitement. “And it was very, very, very close.” His dramatic pause only heightened the suspense, prompting Ora to exclaim, “Oh gosh!” and McCarthy to admit, “I’m sweating!”

The energy in the room reached its zenith when Cannon finally revealed, “The Season 12 winner of ‘The Masked Singer’ is… The Buffaloes!”

The crowd erupted in cheers, with the audience leaping to their feet and screaming in unison. Ora, McCarthy, Thicke, and Jeong mirrored the audience’s enthusiasm, pointing at the triumphant Buffalos and clapping ecstatically.

Confetti exploded from the rafters, raining down on the stage as the Buffalos celebrated their historic victory. Through a distorted voice, one of the masked performers shouted, “Thank you so much! Woo!”

Cannon, beaming with pride, called the finale “probably the most legendary episode ever!” as the Buffalos basked in the glow of their well-deserved win.

As if the crowning of “The Masked Singer’s” first-ever group winners wasn’t enough, the excitement skyrocketed when the Buffalos removed their masks.

They revealed themselves to be none other than the legendary Grammy-winning trio, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman, who make up Boyz II Men.

The audience erupted in deafening cheers as the judges leaped to their feet in shock and joy. McCarthy was particularly animated, jumping up and down as she exclaimed, “I got you! I got you!” — playfully going back and forth with one of the group members about her clairvoyance.

The moment became even more electrifying as the crowd and judges broke into a chant of “Boyz II Men! Boyz II Men!” Their voices filled the studio, amplifying the sense of celebration and reverence for the iconic group.

“To have you on our show, we are honored!” Cannon boasted before asking the group what inspired them to join the competition.

One of the members candidly responded, “We got excited, man, because, you know, when you’re an artist for 30-some-odd years, people tend to try to put you in a hole of what you can do and what you can’t do.”

He continued, “So we actually huddled up as we always do and said, ‘Listen, we’re gonna start these songs, and slide this way, and push ’em that way, try songs they ain’t never heard us sing before, switch parts around, have people doing stuff they don’t do.’ And then, when the competition got stiff, we just had to turn the screws.”

Boyz II Men also took a moment to give credit to their runner-up, who was unmasked to be Grammy-nominated R&B artist Mario, for his extraordinary talent, which had pushed them to perform at their very best.

The judges were still soaking in the magic of the reveal when Rita Ora shared just how much the moment meant to her. “This is a moment I will never forget in my whole life of entertainment,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.

Finally, another member of Boyz II Men took a moment to thank their fans for letting them have fun and show the public who they really are.

Fans flooded social media with their excitement and overwhelming support for the Season 12 finale of “The Masked Singer,” celebrating both the Buffalos’ historic win and the remarkable season as a whole. “The BEST season ending everrrr [sic] 😍🔥🔥🔥🔥,” praised an elated fan.

Another echoed the sentiment, “BEST SEASON HANDS DOWN!!!!🙌🙌🔥🔥,” while a fellow admirer gushed, “Congratulations Buffaloes 👏👏..This is the happiest l have ever been since the inception of the show 😍😍😍😂.”

Someone else added, “Congratulations buffaloes! I was rooting for you guys this season! You guys definitely deserve it! And most of all, you made HISTORY!!!!!”

Viewers were also quick to point out the significance of the group’s win, noting how it added to the legacy of the show. “They’ve made history on ‘Masked Singer!’This is the first time we’ve had a group win the competition!” remarked a fan.

Another declared, “Not only was my dream finale, but also the most celebrated season finale I ever seen and that Boyz II Men/the Buffaloes vs Mario/Wasp finale will go down to be one of the best and most celebrated season finales ever [sic].”

“The buffalos and wasp both made this season and finale epic! I don’t even watch ‘The Masked Singer’ normally, but I’ve been following both of these characters. Best singing from both the wasp and buffaloes!!” commended another admirer. Someone else swooned, “Boyz II Men from start to finish, sensational!”

One fan had accurately guessed the Buffalos’ identities before their masks were removed, “The buffalos are definitely boyz II men [sic]. They are one of the greatest singers of all time.”

The Season 12 finale of “The Masked Singer” wasn’t just about the reveal of the winner — it was a night filled with heartwarming performances, emotional reflections, and unforgettable surprises.

Kicking off the festive celebration, Season 5 winner Nick Lachey, famously known as Piglet (on his season), returned to the stage with a captivating rendition of “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

Adding to the holiday cheer, Nick Cannon delighted the judges by handing out gifts while dressed as Santa Claus, setting the tone for an extraordinary evening.

At another point in the episode, the Wasp aka Mario reflected on his career. In his clue package, he shared how much the competition meant to him. “This experience has felt like it’s made for me, like I’m finally getting the recognition I’ve been craving,” he disclosed.

With mentions of collaborating with stars like Lil Wayne, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ne-Yo, the Wasp explained how he hoped to show the world the depth of his talent beyond being known as “that cute little kid with that song.”

For his first performance of the night, he gave a soulful rendition of Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man,” which drew high praise from the judges and sparked speculation about his identity.

Meanwhile, the Buffalos aka Boyz II Men shared an equally moving backstory about their decades-long journey in the music industry. One member spoke candidly about the group’s challenges, from fighting their way out of tough circumstances to overcoming the loss of a beloved member and redefining their sound.

One Buffalo spoke about how their time on the show has been for their fans, kids, and everyone who stuck by them, emphasizing the deeply personal nature of their participation in the competition.

Their first performance — Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” — showcased their extraordinary range, leaving Thicke awestruck. “That range was world class [sic],” commented the judge.

The emotion only deepened as the finalists took to the stage for their second performances. The Wasp delivered a riveting version of Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight.”

Meanwhile, the Buffalos performed Sam Smith’s “Too Good at Goodbyes,” which Thicke described as transcendent, remarking, “Those harmonies, they make you feel like you’re walking through the gates of heaven.”

The comment brought one of the Buffalos to tears, as he expressed, “This has made me feel like, with these guys, we can do anything.”

Following the exhilarating finale, both finalists took to Instagram to share heartfelt reflections on their journey and connect with their fans. Mario posted a carousel featuring a mix of stunning photos and a video capturing his unmasking moment.

The images showcased him in his intricate Wasp costume, with its vibrant yellow wings and shimmering black-and-gold bodysuit.

One backstage snap showed him holding the elaborate mask with a triumphant smile, offering fans a close-up of the costume’s incredible detail. Another photo showed him mid-performance under sparkling stage lights, surrounded by glowing sunflowers.

In his caption, Mario expressed gratitude for the experience, “TO ALL MY WASP FANS OUT THERE! Thank you for your support and love. This was such an amazing journey and it certainly allowed me to be a big kid again. The wasp will forever be a winner and live through your imagination. 🐝.”

He also extended his congratulations to Boyz II Men and revealed how much their music has inspired him as an artist.

Ending on a high note, Mario reminded fans about his latest album, urging them to check it out, “THE LEGACY CONTINUES. New album ‘GLAD YOU CAME’ out NOW!!! LINK IN MY BIO 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.”

Boyz II Men shared a behind-the-scenes look into their “Masked Singer” adventure. Their Instagram post featured a compilation video chronicling the journey of their Buffalo costumes — from initial concept art to the detailed designs that brought the characters to life.

One playful clip revealed that the group almost performed as French Hens before settling on the Buffalos. The video transitioned to show candid moments of the trio getting into costume, adjusting their elaborate masks, and rehearsing their harmonized choreography in a studio before their show-stopping finale performance.

In their caption, Boyz II Men reflected on their transformative experience, “We did it, BuffaLOVE! 🐃🎭🏆 This journey on ‘The Masked Singer’ has been one for the books. Stepping behind the mask as The Buffalos pushed us creatively and reminded us why we love what we do.”

They also expressed deep gratitude to their fans for the unwavering support that carried them through the competition, adding, “We’re so proud to bring home the win for Season 12! Much love always. ❤️”