‘The Masked Singer’ Season 13 opens with Ant’s ‘brave’ #MeToo moment: ‘No one will ever stomp us out’

Luck was in the air Wednesday night as Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora celebrated the premiere of The Masked Singer Season 13. The panelists started out the show by squishing into an elevator with all of the former winning costumes: Monster, Fox, Night Angel, Sun, Piglet, Queen of Hearts, Firefly, Harp, Medusa, Cow, and Goldfish. Host Nick Cannon then asked if there was “room for four more,” as he was accompanied by all three reigning Buffalos.

Just like in years past, the lucky 13th season premiere introduced a new group of costumes who would duke it out on the main stage for a shot at eventually winning the Golden Mask. The singer with the lowest number of votes would be forced to unmask in front of America. The contestants who took part in Episode 1 were Honey Pot, Ant, Paparazzo, Fuzzy Peas, and Coral. Read on for our recap of “Lucky Season 13: Group A Premiere,” which aired Feb. 12, 2025, on Fox.

Robin and Rita were joined by Mario (aka Season 12’s runner-up, Wasp) for a live rendition of “Get Lucky” on the big stage, and then it was time to meet the first costumed crooner of Season 13.

Honey Pot

Here is what the bee-licious vocalist had to say: “I’m becoming the Honey Pot because I always say you can catch flies with honey, but you can catch even more honey with being fly. You know that I’ll do anything for a laugh, so when it comes to the show, I’m game. Welcome to ‘What’s the Buzz?’ The categories are Funny, Money, and Honeys. First question: who is one of the founding fathers of modern day comedy? Here’s the answer: it’s me! Next: who’s sold more than two billion bucks at the box office? The answer: it’s me! Final question: who do the ladies consider the sexiest man on the planet? The answer: Brad Pitt … but I was a close second. Now let’s see what they’ve won: meee!”

Honey Pot is singing “Sexyback” by Justin Timberlake and his voice honestly doesn’t seem like that of a recording artist. But that’s OK! Ken calls the performance “joyous” and “fun-filled.” Honey Pot replies, “It ain’t about just the honey, you gotta be funny to make money.” Jenny picks up on the lady justice statue and game show clue and names Steve Harvey, while the others guess Cedric the Entertainer (Ken and Robin) and Keegan-Michael Key (Rita).

Ant

Next to take the stage is Ant. Here is how she describes her journey: “Why am I an ant? The thing about ants is that they’re small and mighty. And did you know, they can carry over 50 times their body weight? But just because you can carry a heavy burden, doesn’t mean you should have to. I’ve been forced to bear a deep, dark secret for my entire career. And because of this secret, powerful people tried to erase me, to brush me off, to stomp me out. The weight of it broke my spirit — broke me. But recently, I made a decision. I could stay broken, or I could be a warrior. That’s the reason I’m here. To fight for my voice, to be heard, and, like any ant, march toward real change.”

Ant is singing “Just Give Me a Reason” by Pink and gives the panelists “goosebumps” as her voice reverberates throughout the entire studio. Rita acknowledges the critter’s “bravery” and calls it a “special moment” on the show. In a #MeToo moment that has audience members tearing up, Ant reveals, “I’m really here on stage tonight for all the survivors. I see you. Anyone that has had to endure, I see you, I support you. Together, no one will ever stomp us out.” The judges’ guesses are Lea Michele (Rita), Lindsay Lohan (Robin), Kesha and Ashanti (Jenny).

Paparazzo

The third contestant is Paparazzo. Let’s pay attention to his clue-filled remarks: “Becoming Paparazzo is perfect for me because, let’s face it, the lens has been pointed in my direction my entire life. And while you see me do so many things in my career, the one thing I have never had a chance to do is sing on a big stage. Until now. And honestly, I’m terrified. I mean, I worked with the greats, took over the silver screen, and even took America’s sweetheart to prom. But this? This is so far outside of my comfort zone, I’m kind of freaking out. But I think that’s the big reason to give it a try. I know I’m not gonna be perfect, but tonight, I’m digging deep, I’m putting my fears aside, and hopefully capturing your hearts.”

Paparazzo is singing “The Door” by Teddy Swims and the judges are rather “surprised” by his “unexpectedly” strong vocals. After several superstar celebrities popped up in his clues video, Paparazzo teased the crowd by saying, “If you guys keep me around, I might spill the tea on yet another friend of mine, Steve Martin.” The panelists’ guesses are Taron Egerton (Rita), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Robin), and Kieran Culkin (Ken).

Fuzzy Peas

Fourth to perform is Fuzzy Peas. Here’s what he had to say: “If you had told me one day I would be dressing up as Fuzzy Peas, I would have told you, ‘Aye! Absolutely, I believe you!’ You see, I am third-generation in my field. We all fought for what we believe in. Add a dash of my mother’s passion, music, and now, I’m known for my hits — some of them Grammy-nominated. I even fulfilled her dying wish of securing a gold record! Now I, Fuzzy Peas, am here as captain of my destiny because I never say no to a challenge — or a fiesta!”

Fuzzy Peas is singing “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens and the judges are instantly impressed by his energy. Robin calls it his “favorite of the night” before Fuzzy Peas shares a clue about his night at the Grammys. “I was nominated with Shakira and Christina Aguilera,” he teases. The panelists’ guesses are Mario Lopez (Rita), George Lopez (Jenny), and John Leguizamo (Robin).

Coral

Closing out tonight’s show is Coral. Here is how she describes her journey: “The Coral costume is so majestic, but she’s also got these hard, tough edges — the kind that are strong and resilient. That’s why I relate to her. Ever since I was young, I dreamed of being a star. I’d ask everyone, ‘Please, please, please let me sing for you!’ But, for eight years it was rejection after rejection. I was this little girl struggling through the madness of the industry. Just as I was about to give it all up, a small victory turned into my voice being heard across the globe. Now, that unpredictable madness has led me here. As Coral, I’m casting my net towards a new goal: securing that trophy.”

Coral is singing “Mad World” by Tears for Fears. Her emotional delivery silences the crowd until she belts out the bridge, earning a rapturous applause. Following her performance she tells Nick, “You know, all those no’s just made me stronger and all it took was one yes to start a wave of success!” The panelists’ guesses are Carly Rae Jepsen (Robin), Sabrina Carpenter (Ken), and Halsey (Rita).

The Elimination

Following the audience vote, Honey Pot has been eliminated from the competition. Before he reveals himself, the panelists get to open up a “Crack the Case” clue case. Honey Pot’s case holds a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The sticky container states, “I’ve done so many wild things in my career, but getting this star made it all worth it.” The panelists then submitted their final guesses: Martin Lawrence (Robin), Eddie Murphy (Rita), and Cedric the Entertainer (Ken and Jenny). Honey Pot finally pops his lid and reveals he is, in fact, Cedric the Entertainer!

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