Mariah Carey Faces Lip-Sync Allegations at Winter Olympics Opening
The organisers of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony have declined to refute allegations that pop superstar Mariah Carey lip-synced during her performance at the prestigious sporting event's inauguration in Milan. Carey, who performed the classic Italian song 'Volare' to mark the commencement of the 25th Olympic Winter Games, faced immediate backlash on social media platforms, with numerous spectators accusing the celebrated vocalist of miming her way through the musical number.
Organisers Confirm Pre-Recording But Remain Evasive
When questioned directly about whether Carey was indeed lip-syncing, the ceremony's director, Maria Laura Iascone, acknowledged that a pre-recorded version had been prepared but carefully avoided confirming whether this recording was utilised during the live broadcast or if Carey sang live. According to reports from The Guardian, Iascone stated, 'During all the ceremonies, in order to be on the safe side, we always record.' She further elaborated, 'But this is something that is practised internationally in events with high-level broadcasting.'
Despite the controversy, Iascone expressed no dissatisfaction with Carey's performance, praising the singer's 'really extraordinary show.' She added, 'It was fantastic for everybody, and we are all satisfied by the results we had. And the images prove it to you all because there was magic.'
Official Statement Cites Technical Necessities
A spokesperson for the Milan-Cortina organising committee provided additional context, explaining that certain elements of the opening ceremony had been pre-recorded 'to ensure accurate timing, sound quality and a seamless broadcast.' This technical justification, however, did little to quell the growing discontent among viewers who had expected a live vocal performance from the iconic artist.
Social Media Erupts with Criticism
The controversy ignited a firestorm on social media, where users did not hold back in their condemnation of Carey's perceived lack of authenticity. One particularly vocal user on X tweeted during the performance, 'I haven't seen a worse lip sync performance than this in years.' Another commenter expressed frustration, posting, 'Some of the most awful lip syncing by Mariah Carey come on Italy, you have your own singers!!'
Further criticism highlighted the apparent lack of effort in concealing the lip-syncing, with one observer noting, 'Witnessing Mariah Carey at the #Olympics2026 Opening Ceremony...she is stiff, lip syncing and 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.'
The sentiment was echoed across multiple platforms, with comments such as 'Mariah Carey ain’t even singing this smh hate lip syncing' and 'Mariah Carey is lip syncing at the Olympics' capturing the widespread disappointment. Some users also questioned the artistic choice, with one pondering, 'I'm very confused why American Mariah Carey is lip syncing at the Opening Ceremony in Milan.'
Background and Previous Controversies
This incident follows previous accusations that Carey had put minimal effort into her vocal performances, with spectators claiming that during certain segments, her lip movements were noticeably out of sync with the audio. Despite having no Italian heritage—born to a father of Irish descent and an Afro-Venezuelan mother—Carey is classically trained in opera and possesses an impressive vocal range. Her selection for the ceremony initially raised eyebrows when announced in December, and the recent lip-sync allegations have only intensified the scrutiny surrounding her participation in this globally televised event.
