The Masked Dancer: Ice-T removes Disco Ball disguise after becoming first eliminated on new Fox show

Ice-T removed his Disco Ball disguise after becoming the first celebrity to be eliminated Sunday on the series premiere of The Masked Dancer on Fox.

The 62-year-old rapper performed a dance routine to Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars while performing in Group A against Hammerhead, Tulip, Cricket and Exotic Bird during the one-hour show hosted by Craig Robinson, 49.

Ten celebrities will compete on the new show with Paula Abdul, 58, Ken Jeong, 51, Ashley Tisdale, 35, and Brian Austin Green, 47, serving as panelists.

The clues package for Disco Ball included a shark fin and gavel as he revealed that he lost both his parents at a young age while admitting that he was no stranger to the spotlight.

Disco Ball slowly walked up to the stage to perform and Paula noted that he had an ‘older gait to him’.

He finished his spirited dance routine with a salute to the panel.

The show featured a Word Up! segment in which contestants using their real voice provide a one-word clue and Disco Ball said, ‘Grammy’.

‘My daughter is the reason that I’m participating,  so it will make me feel very proud. …Unless she thinks I suck,’ Disco Ball said backstage.

A studio audience and superfans voted for their favorite after the first five performed and Disco Ball finished in last place prompting his unmasking.

The panelists were allowed to ask a final question before revealing their last guesses.

Paula guessed that Disco Ball was actor Ving Rhames, Brian went with LL Cool J, Ken picked Smokey Robinson and Ashley decided on Lionel Richie.

Ice-T, real name Tracy Lauren Marrow, after removing his mask told the panel that he gave them a clue as the gavel suddenly made sense to Paula.

He has played NYPD Detective/Sergeant Odafin ‘Fin’ Tutuola on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 2000.

‘Absolutely the craziest thing I’ve ever done. But my daughter watched The Masked Singer,’  said Ice-T referencing his five-year-old daughter Chanel with wife Coco Austin, 41.  

Ice-T said it was ‘very cool’ and a ‘fun experience’  before teasing Ken about his Smokey Robinson pick. 

Brian asked about his salute at the end and Ice said that he served in the US Army in the 25th Infantry Division.

The show opened with Hammerhead dancing to Everybody by Backstreet Boys and his Word Up! clue was ‘Dramatic’.

Tulip performed to Fergalicious by Fergie and included a solo tap dance routine.

Ashley, who announced she was pregnant in September, got emotional watching Tulip perform.  

 ‘I don’t know if it’s the baby, but I’m, like, super emotional. I wanted to cry. I was so excited. You’re moving me to tears,’ Ashley told Tulip

The guesses for Tulip included TikTok star Charli D’Amelio, Heather Morris and Ariana Grande.

Cricket stayed in character while performing Jump [For My Love] by The Pointer Sisters and provided a Word Up! response of ‘Accomplished’. 

Exotic Bird danced to Con Calma by Daddy Yankee and Katy Perry and Paula admired her footwork.

Her one-word clue was ‘Scored’.

The Masked Dancer will return to its regular schedule on Wednesday, January 6, on Fox.