HOW The Masked Singer actually reveals its celebrity contestants has been exposed – and it’s a far cry from what viewers see on TV.

The Fox singing competition is back for its 14th season, and in the years since its premiere in 2019, the unmasking scene has been the central focus of the series.

Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Rita Ora as judges on "The Masked Singer."
The Masked Singer judges L-R: Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora on the special two-hour Season 14 premiereCredit: 2026 FOX Media LLC
 

The Banana performs on stage on "The Masked Singer."
The Banana is on stage in front of the audience on the season 14 premiere of The Masked SingerCredit: Fox
Yet the pivotal moment seen at the end of each episode isn’t quite what it looks like, thanks to a little Hollywood magic designed to keep spoilers under wraps.

According to a production insider and on-set eyewitness, The Masked Singer uses a variety of “editing and TV tricks” that make the show turn out the way it does.

“What fans don’t realize at home is that the entire live audience is forced to leave the studio before the unmasking takes place.

“The live studio audience is present for all of the performances. And they film wide shots of the packed audience with the contestant fidgeting with there helmet and costume to make it look like they will unveil himself.”

The source spilled that there are different ways the show implements TV trickery to pull off a seamless unveiling.

“Then, when no one is on the stage, the camera crew films close-ups of fans yelling, ‘Take it off! Take it off!’

“But they never do the unmasking when people are present in the room. Everyone in the audience is escorted out by production, and they leave the building.

“The only people present when the unmasking of the celebrity happens are the judges and the show crew,” they added.

Audience members react with surprise and excitement.
Cameras film close-ups of fans in the studio audience, looking shockedCredit: Fox
 

A cheering crowd with a person in the foreground raising their arms in excitement, and another person on the right clapping, at a Masked Singer event.
Various shots of the audience is spliced together for a seamless unmaskingCredit: Fox
On the Fox series, it appears as though the audience is present inside the studio when the celebrity contestant removes their costume.

Different camera angles capture the shock on fans’ faces when the celebrity is revealed, and certain shots make it seem like the room is full for the big moment.

The lengthy process is done to ensure that leaks and spoilers are prevented as the season films completely months before it airs.

Production takes the contestants’ identities so seriously that the cast is not allowed to enter or move around the set without wearing a full head covering.

In addition, they are surrounded by handlers when they move around set to prevent them from interacting with other contestants.

The celebrity contestants on the show are not even privy to who they are competing against until that person is voted out and unmasked on stage.

Since the show premiered in 2019, it has become a pop culture sensation and has featured a variety of celebrities both on the stage and on the judging panel.

For season 14, British singer Rita Ora is returning for her second season after replacing Nicole Scherzinger last year.

Returning judges include Ken Jeong, Robin Thicke, and Jenny McCarthy – who have all been on the show since season 1.

Nick Cannon has returned for his role as the host and also serves as an executive producer.

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The show crowned country music star, Gretchen Wilson, as the winner of season 13 last year after she competed as Pearl.

Andy Grammar, who was dressed as Boogie Woogie, was the runner-up.

Nick Cannon and Snow Cone on the special two-hour Season 14 premiere of The Masked Singer.
Nick Cannon and Snow Cone on the special two-hour Season 14 premiere of THE MASKED SINGER airing Wednesday, Jan. 7Credit: 2026 FOX Media LLC
 

Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Rita Ora on The Masked Singer set.
L-R: Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora on the special two-hour Season 14 premiere of The Masked SingerCredit: 2026 FOX Media LLC