Wednesday night’s episode of “The Masked Singer” brought an unprecedented unmasking, when the Scarecrow chose to unmask himself after just one performance. But, according to the Below star, getting on the show was never about the competition; It was about taking the opportunity to have some fun while simultaneously doing some good in the world.
At the end of the night, the Scarecrow revealed herself to be none other than “The Exorcist” star Linda Blair. The move shocked not only the judges, but host Nick Cannon, whom she cut off mid-sentence to pull it off. After taking off her pumpkin head, Blair gave a long speech, explaining that she had come to the show to help save animals across the country, especially in places like Buffalo, New York in the wake of severe hurricanes.
Blair has been working to rescue animals herself since 1997, and in 2006 she created her non-profit, the “Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation”. The organization’s mission is to “focus on rescuing, rehabilitating and sheltering animals, as well as educating the public on important life-threatening issues plaguing the animal community today.” So, when “The Masked Singer” called, Blair knew she couldn’t say no.
“I thought it was an incredible gift from the universe to give me an opportunity that I could go and entertain and say ‘I’m still here. Help me help them,'” Blair. explained to TheWrap. “If we can fix the problem then I can entertain. And it’s at this kind of crisis stage, I need to try really hard and work hard for the performance. It was tough!”
Blair said she has known Judge Robin Thicke since childhood, and expressed her fondness for the other judges as well. Her goal, she says, was to make judge Ken Jeong wonder why she was being poked by an artist she had no relation to. He appreciated the joy they all brought him.
“I liked the show because it was taking me away from my sadness that we live in rescue,” she said. “We are so stressed and so sad, and work so hard. And, you know, the show gave me an hour a week to forget my sorrows. And this is what I said in my speech. And that, I thank the panelists for bringing the goodness, the kindness — nobody said, you know, bad things. I applaud Fox for having an upbeat family show. And that’s what we need. We need more upbeat family content.
In the end, Blair had no hope of ever winning the entire competition. He had his eyes on the big prize.
“I hope that by doing the show, asking myself to do something that was so different to me, that I can get the public’s attention and the press can help me help them,” she said. “I knew I couldn’t continue with the competition. I wanted other artists to have their day in the sun. And it really was such a fun, wonderful opportunity. And I pray we get some results, you know are, to get help for the animals.”
The semifinals of “The Masked Singer” begin tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.
