Thai singer Violette Wautier has issued an apology following her performance at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) opening ceremony on the evening of 9/12. Taking to her personal page, Wautier addressed the criticism, stating, "Many people must have seen my off-key, pitchy performance on live broadcast. I deeply apologize; this was a mistake. I feel as though my reputation, image, dignity, career, and dreams have been ruined. I felt helpless once the performance ended."
The singer explained that organizers had requested her to lip-sync to ensure a flawless and safe performance. However, upon taking the stage, her microphone was active, but her in-ear monitor did not play her live vocals. This technical malfunction caused her actual singing to be out of sync with the pre-recorded track.
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Singer Violette Wautier. Photo: ThaiPR |
Wautier expressed her regret over the poor performance, noting that she rarely lip-syncs in her career. "I feel very sad because if I had been able to sing live, even if it was bad, I would certainly feel better, as that would be my true ability. At the very least, if I knew I had to sing live and the audio equipment was faulty, I would take off my in-ear monitor or find some way to handle it best," she said. Following her statement, Violette's boyfriend, Kao Jirayu, posted, "I have nothing more to say. I am extremely disappointed with the organizers."
During the opening ceremony, Violette Wautier performed the official theme song alongside two rappers, Golf F.Hero and Twopee. The performance drew significant criticism from many viewers, who labeled it "disastrous" due to the singer's visibly off-key vocals and the evident lip-syncing. This outcome was a letdown for many Thai fans, who had anticipated her performance to be a highlight of the SEA Games opening, alongside the appearance of GOT7 member Bam Bam.
Violette Wautier, 32 years old, is a Thai artist with a Belgian father and Thai mother. She is known for having the most streamed English single by a Thai artist, "Smoke". In addition to her singing career, she has also acted in several films.
The 33rd SEA Games opening ceremony, held at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, lasted two and a half hours. Organizers staged numerous performances blending traditional and modern art, complemented by spectacular sound and lighting. However, the event was not without its issues, including a 30-minute interruption that required the two MCs to improvise to maintain the atmosphere.
The Southeast Asian Games are held once every two years. The 33rd edition of the event takes place from 9/12 to 20/12 in Thailand, featuring 574 events across 50 sports. Thailand has prioritized Olympic sports and limited optional ones, aiming to elevate the SEA Games as a platform to enhance quality and approach international standards. Organizers previously announced venue changes for 11 sports, including men's football, due to severe flooding in the Southern Region which caused over 170 fatalities.
The Vietnam Sports Delegation participates with 1,165 members, including athletes, coaches, technical staff, medical personnel, and logistics support.
Thanh Thanh
