Music icon Cher is confronting renewed allegations of lip-syncing following her highly anticipated return as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live this past weekend. The performance, which marked her first official musical guest slot on the show since her debut in 1987, was quickly clouded by viewer claims that she was miming to her tracks.
SNL Performance Sparks Immediate Backlash
The 79-year-old superstar took to the SNL stage to perform her 2023 single, DJ Play a Christmas Song. Almost instantly, audiences noted that the voice emanating from the speakers sounded conspicuously polished and digitally enhanced, leading many to conclude she was not singing live. Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, erupted with a mixture of mockery and adoration from fans.
One viewer quipped about her appearance, writing: 'cher in a hannah montana wig not even remotely pretending not to lip sync her way through her set. camp is BACK!' Another commented on her equipment, jesting: 'cher’s mic is everything but on………. fierce.' While some criticised, others defended the veteran performer's choice. 'Cher is literally the only person who can get away with lip syncing,' one fan stated, while another declared: 'idc Cher can do whatever she wants and she's fabulous.'
A History of Miming Controversies
This is not the first time Cher has faced such accusations. Notably, she was alleged to have lip-synced just two years ago during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, where she also performed DJ Play a Christmas Song. Observers at the time pointed out moments where her microphone movement did not match the audio output. Her supporters argued that lip-syncing is standard practice for the parade's challenging audio environment.
The issue is particularly sensitive for Cher, as she was embroiled in a major controversy in 1991 for lip-syncing during a supposed live performance on ABC's In Concert to promote her album Love Hurts. This scandal occurred in the direct shadow of the infamous Milli Vanilli lip-syncing revelation the prior year, which severely damaged the credibility of live performances across the music industry.
Set List and Fan Reaction
Following the performance of her Christmas single, Cher returned to the SNL stage to sing the 1950s Chuck Berry classic, Run Run Rudolph. Both songs feature on her 2023 album Christmas, which is her first full holiday record. Despite the miming allegations, the sheer spectacle of her return and her enduring star power remained the dominant talking point for many, highlighting her unique status in popular culture where the performance often transcends the technicalities of live vocal delivery.
