Cher accused of lip-syncing during “SNL ”performance
- - Cher accused of lip-syncing during “SNL ”performance
Shania RussellDecember 22, 2025 at 12:40 AM
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Will Heath/NBC via Getty
Cher performs on 'Saturday Night Live' on Dec. 20, 2025
Cher is at the center of a lively online debate after sparking accusations that she was lip-syncing during her recent performance on Saturday Night Live.
The 79-year-old music legend brought her star power to Studio 8H for two rousing holiday jams this weekend, but some viewers were quick to notice a few inconsistencies in her set, particularly during her first track of the night, a rendition of her 2023 Christmas jam "DJ Play a Christmas Song."
On more than one occasion, Cher's lips stopped moving while the song, and her vocals, continued undisturbed. Saturday Night Live typically allows backing vocal tracks for its musical guests, but the show famously discourages lip-syncing during its musical performances.
Representatives for Cher and SNL did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly's request for comment.
On social media, some viewers did not mince words in their reactions to Cher allegedly lip-syncing.
"She isn't even singing," one X user complained. "This is some of the worst lip-syncing I have ever seen."
Commenting on the YouTube upload of her performance, another viewer wrote, "Why lip-sync? Such a beautiful song and such an amazing artist."
Meanwhile, others argued that it doesn't matter whether or not Cher was singing live.
Maya Dehlin Spach/Getty
Cher on Oct. 28, 2025
"Cher just did one of the worst lip-syncs I've ever seen on SNL, which obviously makes her even more iconic," one X user wrote.
Added another, "Who cares if she's lip-syncing? SHE'S CHER, BITCH."
Another X user was also quick to defend her. "Cher is the ONLY person that gets a pass for lip-syncing on #SNL," they wrote. "She's an icon. Lip-sync if you want, Queen!"
In the YouTube video comments section, another quipped, "Idc [I don't care] about her lip-syncing. It's late, she's 80, she just wants to have some fun."
Prior to this, Cher was accused of lip-syncing during her 2023 performance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. She is not the only artist to face such accusations, however. Fans have also blasted musicians like Ciara, Jewel, and Rita Ora for it. In 2018, John Legend came to Ora's defense in a social media post, telling fans, "Fun fact: We all have to lip-sync on this parade because the floats don't have the capacity to handle the sound requirements for a live performance."
Rosalind O’Connor/NBC
Musical guest Cher, host Ariana Grande, and Bowen Yang on 'Saturday Night Live'
Lip-syncing accusations aside, Cher's dual performances marked a big moment for the global superstar. It found her making her grand return to the SNL stage, after she last appeared as the musical guest 38 years ago. Before the latest episode, though, she has been featured on the show and even participated in SNL50: The Homecoming Concert.
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Last night's episode of SNL was significant for another reason: Hosted by Ariana Grande, it marked the shocking midseason exit of Bowen Yang, who has been a cast member for six and a half years. One sketch featured the comedian joined on stage by Cher, whom he previously named his personal icon and dream SNL guest, with the singer embracing him as he grew emotional over his departure.
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