The Voice is preparing for one of its biggest format changes yet, but the new celebrity edition has already run into an unexpected behind-the-scenes problem.
Bella Poarch has reportedly withdrawn from The Voice: Celebrity after making it through the Blind Auditions, according to The U.S. Sun. Her departure reportedly came just days before the Battle Rounds, forcing producers to make last-minute adjustments to the competition.
The reason for Poarch’s exit has not been revealed.
Bella Poarch reportedly leaves after the Blind Auditions
Poarch, 29, was expected to be part of the first celebrity edition of The Voice, which will feature familiar faces competing instead of aspiring singers.
According to the report, the social media star successfully made it through the Blind Auditions before unexpectedly leaving the competition ahead of the Battles.
Her late withdrawal reportedly created a difficult situation for producers, who had already structured the teams around the contestants moving forward.
On the traditional version of The Voice, the Battle Rounds depend on carefully balanced teams and matchups. Losing a contestant at such a late stage meant the production team had to quickly rethink how to move forward.
A very different version of The Voice
Poarch’s departure comes as NBC prepares to introduce a completely new version of the long-running singing competition.
Rather than featuring unknown artists hoping to launch their careers, The Voice: Celebrity will put recognizable personalities in the spotlight as they compete for charity and bragging rights.
The season has also been filmed in advance, meaning viewers will not be watching a traditional live competition or voting for their favorite contestants.
Keke Palmer will serve as the host, marking another major change for the franchise.
With a celebrity cast, a new host and a different competition structure, the upcoming season is already shaping up to be unlike anything The Voice has done before.
Why Bella Poarch was an intriguing contestant
Poarch entered the competition with a significant fan base already behind her.
She became a global internet sensation in 2020 after one of her TikTok videos went viral, quickly becoming one of the platform’s most recognizable personalities.
But Poarch has since expanded beyond social media and established herself as a recording artist.
After signing with Warner Records in 2021, she released “Build a B**,”** which became a major streaming success and helped establish her music career.
She has continued releasing music and performing for audiences, making her an interesting addition to a celebrity-focused version of The Voice.
Her reported exit therefore comes as an unexpected twist, particularly because she had already advanced past the Blind Auditions.
What happens next?
For now, the circumstances surrounding Poarch’s departure remain unclear, and it is unknown whether her exit will have a noticeable impact on the finished season.
What is clear is that producers had to make changes quickly after losing a contestant so close to the Battle Rounds.
With The Voice: Celebrity introducing a new format, a new host and an entirely different group of contestants, the unexpected departure adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming season.
Fans will have to wait until the celebrity edition arrives to see how producers handled the last-minute shake-up—and whether Poarch’s absence becomes one of the season’s biggest behind-the-scenes stories.