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Wasp was Mario, the R&B singer whose full name is Mario Dewar Barrett. He competed on Season 12 of the U.S. version of The Masked Singer and finished runner-up in the December 18, 2024 finale. The Buffalos, later revealed as Boyz II Men, won the season.
Who was Wasp on The Masked Singer?
Wasp was Mario. He was unmasked during the Season 12 finale on December 18, 2024, after performing against the Buffalos.
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Celebrity | Mario Dewar Barrett |
| Season | Season 12 of the U.S. series |
| Final result | Runner-up |
| Winner | The Buffalos, revealed as Boyz II Men |
| Masked Ambassador | Ne-Yo |
| Unmasked | December 18, 2024 |
After the reveal, Mario performed his 2004 hit “Let Me Love You”.
The strongest Wasp clue: Ne-Yo
The clearest clue came from Wasp’s Masked Ambassador, Ne-Yo. During the clue introduction, Ne-Yo said he had known Wasp since he was “fresh on the scene” and that Wasp had succeeded by taking Ne-Yo’s “words of wisdom” to heart.
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That pointed directly to Mario because Ne-Yo co-wrote “Let Me Love You”, Mario’s major 2004 hit. The connection became even more obvious when Mario sang the song as his post-reveal encore. Ne-Yo’s role was not simply that of a guest performer; he was formally assigned as Wasp’s Masked Ambassador.
Read the clue coverage from TVLine.
Wasp’s clues and what they suggested
The first clue package
Wasp said he grew up in a tough neighborhood, learned to dig deep and fight, and eventually performed on some of the biggest stages and screens in the world. The package included boxing gloves, a popped heart balloon, the planet Mars and a reference to “fresh kicks.”
- Popped heart: Often interpreted as a reference to Mario’s song “Just a Friend.”
- Mars: A strong potential link to Mario’s 2020 EP Closer to Mars.
- Boxing imagery: Consistent with the package’s language about fighting through hardship and staying determined.
- Fresh kicks: A reference that helped describe Wasp’s style and ability to stay on his game.
The heart and Mars explanations are informed deductions rather than explanations definitively narrated by the program. The most documented Mars connection is Mario’s Closer to Mars EP.
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Family and father clues
A later package revealed that Wasp grew up in a house with 12 family members. He also said his father was absent while he was growing up, leaving him feeling directionless. After becoming successful, he reconnected with his father and eventually heard him say that he was proud of him.
The package also featured a crab and included the statement that Wasp took his live performances to “new heights.” These personal details fit Mario’s story as presented on the show, while the crab and height imagery were left open to interpretation.
The clues about Wasp’s mother
Another package focused on Wasp’s mother, whom he described as his lifelong protector. He said that, as he grew older, he began seeing cracks in her armor and could not save her during her “darkest battle yet.”
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The visuals included a stethoscope, a treasure map and a million-dollar bill alongside the statement that he had also “hit a million.” The wording suggested a serious family health or personal crisis, but the episode did not establish a complete, independently verified explanation for every image. The stethoscope, treasure map and “darkest battle” should therefore not be treated as confirmed references to one specific event.
Every song Wasp performed
| Episode or stage | Song |
|---|---|
| Group B premiere, October 16, 2024 | “Rock Your Body” by Justin Timberlake |
| October 23, 2024 | “Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato |
| Group B finals, November 6, 2024 | “Ain’t No Way” by Aretha Franklin |
| Group B finals battle | “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye, in a battle with Goo |
| Quarterfinals, December 4, 2024 | “Standing Next to You” by Jung Kook |
| Semifinals, December 11, 2024 | “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone |
| Finale, December 18, 2024 | “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars |
| Finale, December 18, 2024 | “I’m Your Baby Tonight” by Whitney Houston |
Why “Skyscraper” was an important performance
Mario later explained that Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper” was particularly difficult because the Wasp mask restricted his jaw. He kept the song because its message about trusting and believing in yourself reflected both his personal experience and the Wasp character.
He also described “Rock Your Body” as an important early performance. For “Beautiful Things,” the staging brought Wasp physically closer to the audience by having him walk through it before reaching the stage.
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Read Mario’s post-finale interview with TV Insider.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which panelist guessed Wasp correctly?
Rita Ora was the only panelist to identify Wasp as Mario before the reveal. The other finale guesses were:
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- Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg: Jason Derulo
- Robin Thicke: Anthony Ramos
- Ken Jeong: Usher
- Rita Ora: Mario
Mario said he expected Robin Thicke might recognize him because they had toured together. He credited Rita’s experience as a singer with helping her hear his voice differently. He also deliberately changed his song choices and movement style to make the identification more difficult.
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Was Wasp Jason Derulo or Usher?
No. Jason Derulo and Usher were guesses made by Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg and Ken Jeong, respectively. Wasp was Mario.
Did Wasp win Season 12?
No. Wasp finished in second place. The Buffalos won Season 12 and were revealed to be Boyz II Men.
The official reveal
The official FOX reveal confirms Wasp’s identity as Mario. The reveal also made the Ne-Yo clue especially significant: Ne-Yo had co-written the song Mario used for his unmasked performance, “Let Me Love You.”
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