We all have fears. While some may derive from personal experiences, others appear to be nearly universal. Consider the dread of clowns. Most likely, at least one individual in your life has expressed their intense dislike for clowns.

Simon Cowell, the judge on America’s Got Talent, is one of those people who are afraid of clowns. As you may guess, he was displeased when Jelly Boy the Clown appeared on stage for his audition. When Cowell notices that there is a clown on stage, he turns around and tells the crowd about his phobia. Still, as the audition begins, the longtime AGT judge finds the motivation to conquer his phobia.

Soon after, it is evident that Jelly Boy is not like ordinary clowns. This is true both in personality and in the act itself. Cowell was completely unprepared for what happened.

To be more truthful, nothing could have prepared us for the feats Jelly Boy pulls off. Rather than the typical funny shtick of a clown, he takes a more edgy, deadly approach. And somehow, it works. Something is unsettling about a clown performing these perilous stunts that makes it all the more interesting.

“I’m usually not a fan of sword-swallowing acts, but he brought sword swallowing to another level!” One commenter writes, while another adds, “I wasn’t expecting a clown to be clowning around and doing dangerous stuff at the same time.”

Obtaining a great reaction from the audience was incredible, but obtaining Cowell’s approval was even more gratifying. Jelly Boy received yeses from all four judges!

“We normally get this,” Cowell explains, using a portion of his microphone as a clown’s nose. “That was not clowning. “That was fantastic.”