Sofronio Vasquez from Michael Buble’s team winning ‘The Voice’ Season 26 leaves Internet divided

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Voice' recently announced the 26th season winner. Sofronio Vasquez of Team Michael Buble was crowned the winner of the NBC singing competition series on Tuesday's, December 10, finale.

Vasquez was one of the season's top five finalists, along with Sydney Sterlace (Team Gwen), Jeremy Beloate (Team Snoop), Danny Joseph (Team Reba), and Shye (Team Buble).

The winner of Season 26 received a record deal with Universal Music Group and a $100,000 cash prize after winning the majority of American votes, according to The Wrap.

Sofronio Vasquez wins 'The Voice' Season 26 for first-time coach Michael Buble

The two-part finale featured the five finalists along with their respective coaches, Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, and Michael Buble, taking the stage for the final time.

As the winner was announced, Vasquez collapsed to his knees and first-time coach Buble started crying too.

"My Filipino brother, you are the hope of so many people... it has been such an unbelievable journey to be here with you," Buble said to Vasquez before his victory, noted People.

Earlier in the evening, Team Buble's Shye came in second, followed by Team Gwen's Sydney Sterlace in third, Team Reba's Danny Joseph in fourth, and Team Snoop's Jeremy Beloate in fifth.

Vasquez, who was raised in the Philippines, attributes his love of singing to his father. He relocated to the US to pursue a career in music after his father died in 2022.

In his blind audition for 'I'm Goin' Down,' a song by Rose Royce, he received a four-chair turn and selected Buble as his coach. The Canadian crooner gave Vasquez positive feedback during the December 2 episode following his heartfelt rendition of Elvis Presley's 'If I Can Dream.'

In an interview with People on December 9, Vasquez stated that he would celebrate his time on the show following the finale, regardless of the outcome.

He said, "We're just going to celebrate that this was a very, very good run for 'The Voice' and we really felt that we are loved by the production and no one is superior... we are all loved. [It's] in America's hands for tomorrow."

Fans divided over Sofronio Vasquez winning 'The Voice' Season 26

Despite many online users being happy that Filippino Sofronio Vasquez finally won, others are slamming the music show as fixed and the winner was already decided.

Congratulating the winner one X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, "Congratulations to Sofronio Vasquez for winning The Voice! My vote!!!"

"A Filipino pride, a Kakampink, and Showtime’s Tawag ng Tanghalan alumnus, Sofronio Vasquez, has made history as the winner of The Voice USA Season 26," wrote one.

Another remarked, "Never denied, only redirected From losing Tawag ng Tanghalan to winning THE VOICE US S26!!! Sofronio Vasquez, our first Filipino and first Asian winner of The Voice History for my boiii!"

Meanwhile, several users slammed 'The Voice' as biased and fixed as one wrote, "What a shocker LOL. They used him for weeks to advertise the new season before it even began and sneak peaked his blind audition on YouTube."

Another said, "SORRY but, NBC PICKED Softonio & Buble to Win because he's a sore loser & that guy is a horrible singer! Wouldn't buy anything from him! Reba's,Snoop or Gwen's singers were better. Bublé should just leave the show. I Don't like him at ALL! He's HORRIBLE! KEEP GWEN, REBA & SNOOP!"

"Definitely not surprised that the final 2 were team Buble. He smartly kept his 2 best, while the other coaches let their best go. Had Jose Luis and Austyns Stancil stayed in the competition, it would have been a different finale. Congrats @MichaelBuble!" remarked one.

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