Talk about a “Smooth Criminal” on the court! Giovanni Mazza has proven in more ways than one that he is a talented individual. Not only can he act, but he just reminded everyone that his real-life violin skills are every bit as elite as those of his character, Gio Palmieri, on General Hospital.
During halftime of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets playoff game on Tuesday night, Mazza took to center court at Crypto.com Arena and absolutely electrified the crowd.
A Virtuoso Tribute to the King of Pop
Mazza performed a high-energy version of the Michael Jackson classic “Smooth Criminal.” Of course, he took to Instagram to share a clip of the moment. He posted the video in honor of the brand-new Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, which hit theaters on April 24, 2026. The film has already become a massive box-office hit!
Since he shared the clip, which has already amassed thousands of views, the support from Port Charles has been massive. It didn’t take long for his GH family to flood his Instagram comments with praise. Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), who plays the boy’s onscreen father, proudly commented, “My son!!”
Meanwhile, Braedyn Bruner (Emma), his onscreen love interest, gushed, “You are the coolest person I know,” to which Mazza sweetly replied, “No, YOU are!”
Laura Wright (Carly) also showed her excitement with a classic, “Hell Yeah !!!!” Kelly Thiebaud (Britt) added, “Incredible.” Even Rena Sofer (Lois), his onscreen grandmother, commented, “My boy!! My amazing TV grandson!!!”
Plus, incoming GH actor Jonathan Bennett, who will debut in May, even called him a “Legend.”
Art Imitating Life for Giovanni Mazza
Currently on General Hospital, Gio is involved in a major Broadway crossover storyline where he takes Emma to see Aladdin in New York City. While fans have seen Gio play on the show, including that unforgettable performance at the Nurses’ Ball, seeing Mazza command an NBA arena of nearly 20,000 people proves why he was the perfect choice to play a musical prodigy.
Watch the performance below!
What did you think of the “Smooth Criminal” rendition? Should Gio perform some MJ at the next Nurses’ Ball?
Photo Credit: JPI Studios/Instagram.
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