Howie Mandel was booed for harsh criticism of America's Got Talent cheerleader Emily Gold and her high school troupe just one month before she killed herself

A friend of teenage dancer Emily Gold put a consoling hand on her shoulder as AGT judge Howie Mandel prepared to deliver his withering verdict on their troupes performance a month before her suicide.

The team from Los Osos High School in California was eliminated from the quarter-final show last month despite a rapturous standing ovation from the audience at Pasadenas Civic Auditorium.

The program paid tribute to Gold, 17, on Tuesday hailing her as a bright young soul after she was found dead under a bridge on 210 Highway just before midnight on Friday.

Judge Simon Cowell had joined the audiences standing ovation and hailed the teams performance as an event, but Mandel was unmoved by their efforts as he offered his scathing dismissal.

The event was a half-time high school show, he remarked. I would love it more if my granddaughter was in it.

Emily Gold was found dead on the eastbound 210 Highway in Rancho Cucamonga on Friday night, a month to the day after competing on Americas Got Talent

A friend laid a reassuring hand on Emilys shoulder as AGT judge Howie Mandel sat with his arms crossed ahead of his withering verdict

Emilys parents said they have a hole the size of the universe as they broke their silence falling her sudden death on Friday.

With sadness beyond measure we must tell you all that we lost our beautiful Emily on September 13th, our hearts have a hole the size of the universe right now, Dad Steven wrote on Instagram.

The outpouring of love and support we are receiving shows us how many lives that angel touched and lifted, and it is what will help us through the most difficult time of our lives.

Emily was a member of both the cheer squad and the varsity dance team at her school in Rancho Cucamonga.

The school was buzzing with excitement as the dance team sailed through the AGT auditions in May.

It was absolutely brilliant, Cowell told his fellow judges.

What I loved about this was first of all the energy. I think what I just saw is everything a great school should be doing, which is encouraging talent and friendship.

It reminded me of seeing the High School Musical movie and thinking every kid should go to a school like that.

Mandel dismissed the audience as biased, warning: The bar has been raised this season and when you see dancers on this million-dollar stage you want to see at least one move that makes you go Oh my God.

Simon Cowell (right) had joined the standing ovation for the troupes performance but Mandel (left) was unmoved as the crowd booed his scathing remarks 

Emily was in the front row as they prepared to hear the judges remarks

Judge Sofia Vergara said she had never heard the audience react so well to a performance

Mantel, however, was roundly booed as he warned them they were about to be eliminated from the competition

Cowell hailed a gigantic step up when the group returned for the quarter-finals, and fellow judge Heidi Klum struggled to be heard above cheers from the crowd.

Im totally here for you, I love you guys, she told them before turning round in astonishment at the noise.

Oh my god! she muttered.

Ive never seen this theatre go so crazy, its amazing to me, said judge Sofia Vergara.

But Mandel insisted I still think the same thing as he sat with his arms crossed and predicted their elimination.

The reason it sounds so wild in here is because the families are out here, he insisted as the audiences boos rang in his ears.

Youll see. The people at home.

Interviewed by People after the show she spoke of the effort that had gone into her routine.

When Im performing, Im really thinking about all the corrections because we get corrections up until five minutes before we go on stage, she told the website.

So to really just think about all those so that we apply them is my biggest priority on stage.

Asked about the challenge of juggling her dancing and her schoolwork she said: Its definitely tough to balance it all, but we make it happen.

Emilys friends in the dance troupe issued their own tribute to the beautiful, loving and kind varsity dance captain yesterday.

Emily has always embodied every aspect of our core team values through her strength, commitment, kindness, compassion and the most humble heart, they wrote.

And Emilys devastated twin brother Alex paid a tribute of his own to his baby sis on social media with a photo montage of their childhood together.

The times we spent together wont ever be enough, he wrote.

You were my whole childhood and the memories we made together and all the places weve been and seen together will always stay with me.

You really broke my heart Em.

Ill always stay up for you and live life for you.

Emily was a member of both the schools Varsity Dance Team and its Varsity cheer squad

Parents Brandy and Steven Gold said they have a hole the size of the universe in their hearts after the sudden death of their daughter on Friday night

Emilys twin brother Alex paid his own moving tribute to his baby sis 

Emily in her final Instagram post four weeks ago 

In a post on its Facebook page, the NBC show said it sends out our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and team members of Emily Gold. She was a bright young soul and will be deeply missed.

Mandel, who joined the talent shows panel in 2019, did not mention Emilys death when he spoke earlier today about the lasting appeal of AGT.

The veteran Canadian comic said he thought America would never tire of what he described as the most relatable show on television.

We all have dreams, we all have aspirations, he told Hollywood Outbreak, We all think that these dreams and hopes may not come true for us.

So if they dont come true for us its fun to watch somebody who maybe has talked about being locked up in their room their entire life, nobody has ever seen them do this or theyve never been heard before.

They step on that X and then boom! their lives change for ever.

Dailymail.com has reached out to Mandel for comment. 

If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741