The opening ceremony took place on February 7 (KST) at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy. Mariah Carey appeared as a special guest performer and took the stage to sing “Volare” (Nel blu, dipinto di blu), one of Italy’s most iconic and beloved songs, as part of the celebratory lineup.

According to overseas media outlets including Daily Mail, Carey’s performance soon drew mockery and backlash across social media platforms. While lip-syncing is not uncommon at large-scale global events like the Olympics often used as a safeguard against technical or sound issues viewers took issue with what they described as a lack of effort in Carey’s execution.

During high-note sections, Carey was seen maintaining a blank expression while barely moving her lips, and several moments reportedly showed her mouth movements lagging noticeably behind the audio. These details fueled criticism that the performance looked rushed and unconvincing.

Online reactions were swift and harsh. Netizens commented, “I haven’t seen lip-syncing this bad in years,” “They should’ve invited an Italian singer instead,” and “The worst part is that she didn’t even try to hide the lip-syncing.” Many expressed disappointment that such a prestigious international event was met with what they perceived as a careless stage.

While Mariah Carey remains one of the most celebrated vocalists in pop history, the Olympic performance has reignited ongoing debates about authenticity, performance standards, and expectations for artists appearing on the world’s biggest stages.

Sources: Daum