This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Mariah Carey has issued a partial explanation for her glitch-plagued performance in New York City on New Year’s Eve, saying she was “put into the hands of a production team with technical issues who chose to capitalise on circumstances beyond our control”.

Dick Clark Productions denies 'sabotaging' Mariah Carey New Year's Eve show Read more

“Listen guys,” she said in an audio file posted to Twitter. “They foiled me … it turned into an opportunity to humiliate me.”

Dick Clark Productions, which produced the show for ABC, said earlier this week that reports Carey’s performance may have been sabotaged with a faulty earpiece were “absurd”.

In her statement, Carey said her “ear monitors were not working at all”.

The singer, 47, performed in Times Square as part of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. Experiencing technical difficulties after starting strongly, she stopped performing as pre-recorded vocals continued to play.



“Let the audience sing,” she said. “I’m trying to be a good sport here.”

Her first response after the concert was more pithy than Sunday’s statement. Early on New Year’s Day, Carey posted to Twitter a gif that simply said: “Shit happens.”

The celebrity news site TMZ later reported that a source in “Mariah’s team” believed the production company may have “sabotaged” Carey’s performance by providing her with a faulty earpiece, in order to score ratings.

In response, Dick Clark Productions issued a statement. “To suggest that [a] producer of music shows including the American music awards, Billboard music awards, New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and Academy of Country Music awards would ever intentionally compromise the success of any artist is defamatory, outrageous and frankly absurd.”

The statement added: “We want to be clear that we have the utmost respect for Ms Carey as an artist and acknowledge her tremendous accomplishments in the industry.”

On Sunday, Carey said: “I haven’t really addressed the situation that happened on New Years Eve and in time I will, but for now I want everyone to know I came to New York in great spirits and was looking forward to a celebratory moment with the world.

“It’s a shame that we were put into the hands of a production team with technical issues who chose to capitalise on circumstances beyond our control.”

Amid the social-media-driven furor after the New Year’s performance, some observers expressed shock that Carey had been lip-syncing.

“It’s not practical for a singer to sing live and to be able to hear themselves properly in the middle of Times Square,” Carey said on Sunday, “with all the noise, the freezing cold, the smoke machines, thousands of people celebrating, especially when their ear monitors were not working at all.

“Listen guys, they foiled me. Thus it turned into an opportunity to humiliate me and all those who were excited to celebrate the new year with me.”

She added: “Eventually I will explain this in greater detail to anyone who cares to hear it. I cannot deny that my feelings are hurt but I’m working through this and I’m truly grateful for my fans and my true friends, who have been so supportive in this time.

“I’m going to take a break from media moments, social-media moments although I am going to fulfil my professional obligations. This is an important time for me to finally take a moment for myself and to be with my loved ones and prepare for my upcoming tour in March.

“I just want to thank everyone for their support, thank you my industry friends and thank you to my fans, you’re always there for me, I can’t imagine life without you and you’ll always be a part of me. I can’t wait to sing for you again.”