Mariah Carey opened the show for NBC’s 2014 live broadcast of “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” and she bravely chose to do so by singing live, rather than in a pre-recorded segment. Unfortunately for her, it wasn’t her best performance by a long shot.
Carey hasn’t said anything since her performance, but to say it didn’t go well would be an understatement. Her signature vocal range appeared to be greatly limited, with the diva straining to reach certain notes and choosing to avoid others altogether in a messy rendition of her own Christmas classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
As the song progressed, it seemed like she was losing even more of her voice, as well as her breath. While many viewers took to Twitter and other social media platforms to deride the singer, just as many of Carey’s fans were quick to jump to her defense.
With a career spanning decades, Carey has more than proven herself a powerhouse vocalist. And everyone has an off night from time to time. Hers just happened to be a particularly severe off night and it happened during a live televised performance.
We’ve gathered some of the most polarized Twitter responses from Carey’s difficult performance. Watch the performance here.
RIP Mariah Carey‘s Voice.
— Alysha Umphress (@Cristalzheat) December 4, 2014
Poor #MariahCarey. Poor, poor girl. It was so bad I don’t even wanna @ her, I don’t want her seeing this. #rockefellercenter
— SYKE (@SykeOnAir) December 4, 2014
it’s time for mariah carey to throw in the towel
— salem (@salemmitchell) December 4, 2014
What happened to #MariahCarey? I’m watching her on this Christmas show & she can’t sing anymore! She’s totally winded! That was painful!
— Kalyn (@K_Jasee) December 4, 2014
Mariah, love you. But you’re killing this song. Like literally it’s dead….please stop. #RockefellerCenterTreeLighting
— Buddy Love (@JustBuddyLove) December 4, 2014
Mariah Carey has lost it. I feel bad :// https://t.co/kN3uYScdcW — king B (@surfboarts) December 4, 2014
It took me 1 hour to calm my damn dog down after Mariah Carey sang live on tv. — MattZilla (@mattZillaaaa) December 4, 2014
@MariahCarey you are still the QUEEN!&always will be! Ignore the haters the Lambily have you back! You looked and sounded beautiful! #mariah — Me. I Am Liam ✌️ (@Littleliam1996) December 4, 2014
Yikes! #MariahCarey singing at the Rockefeller Center @nbc #Christmas special was absolutely horrible! That was embarrassing. — HansonGuy.com (@HansonGuyDotCom) December 4, 2014
In other news, Nick Cannon must’ve got Mariah Carey‘s voice in the divorce. #RockCenterXMAS — Darren (@zeebotter) December 4, 2014
It’s getting harder and harder for me to defend Mariah Carey. #RockefellerCenterTreeLighting
— John R Oliveira (@JohnRaphael) December 4, 2014
Mariah looks like she is struggling to get through this song. #MariahCarey #AllIWantForChristmas
— Aaqila (@4everQila) December 4, 2014
Well that start to the show was …umm… Memorable. #mariah
— Randi Rico WLWT (@RandiRicoWLWT) December 4, 2014