A Canterbury talent performer, who starred on America's Got Talent, is asking one Brazilian copycat to explain himself after he ripped off the Kiwi's act.

Kiwi comedy performer Sam Wills, who became the television sensation known as Tape Face, shot to America's Got Talent stardom last month with his "tape face" act.

He performed his sketch as the Boy with Tape on his Face on the talent show - and was lauded by judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and ex-Spice Girl Mel Brown.

But this week, the Kiwi performer has called out a Brazilian copycat who copied his entire act and performed it on a South American talent show.

A performer known as Lukkas reenacted Wills' performance, piece by piece, on The Joao Kleber Show.

The skit was uploaded to the show's YouTube account on June 12.

In a message on Twitter Mr Wills said he has contacted the show.

"Turns out he was paid by the TV show. In this situation don't shoot the messenger. He was used," Mr Wills tweeted.

Mr Wills has performed sell-out shows in New Zealand, Australia and UK but has his sights firmly set on the notoriously tough to crack United States.

He told Fairfax America's Got Talent is the only way to be "seen quickly" in the US, meaning the stakes were high to wow the judges.

"I was honestly terrified of getting an X... I don't want that to be my legacy," Mr Wills said.

"I have worked really hard on the show and the character."