Never mind President Barack Obama's inauguration address or what Michelle Obama was wearing at the ball.Was Beyoncé lip-synching the US national anthem on Monday, or wasn't she?
The Grammy-winning singer remained silent on Tuesday amid a media storm over whether she was lip-synching, singing over her own pre-recorded track, or performing live when she delivered a flawless version of The Star-Spangled Banner to hundreds of thousands of people in Washington and millions watching on television.
A spokesperson for the US Marine band first told US news outlets on Tuesday that the Single Ladies star "decided to go with the pre-recorded music at the last minute" and that, to the spokesperson's knowledge, she was not actually singing the anthem.
Fans of Beyoncé rallied behind the pop diva on Twitter on Tuesday after it emerged she lip-synched The Star-Spangled Banner at President Barack Obama's public inauguration ceremony the day before.The New York Times quoted a US Marine Band spokesperson as saying that, just before Beyoncé took the stage, its musicians learned that a version of the national anthem it pre-recorded with her the day before would be used.
"We don't know why," said the spokesperson, Master Sergeant Kristin duBois. "But that is what we were instructed to do... It's not because Beyoncé can't sing. We all know Beyoncé can sing. We all know the Marine Band can play."
Beyoncé's publicist did not respond to an email request from AFP for comment, but there was no shortage of reaction on Twitter in support of the songstress, who will play the Super Bowl half-time show in February.
'Beyoncé is the best lip-syncer I've seen'
"Who cares that Beyoncé Lip #Sync the National Anthem, it was recorded live an hour before. You try singing in that cold," tweeted one fan, referring to Monday's near-freezing temperatures in Washington.
"Beyoncé certainly acted like a diva ... but I don't see how that can be compared to Lance Armstrong cheating for 7 straight years at the least," said another Twitter user, referring to the disgraced cyclist.
"Beyoncé is the best lip-syncer I've seen," added a third fan. "Because she surely fooled me."
The US Marine Band is the premier musical ensemble of the US Marine Corps. It's also known as the President's Own for its longstanding connection with the White House and important national events.
It played live for most of Monday's inauguration on the Capitol steps, but prior to any major event, it routinely goes into the studio to record its repertoire as a precautionary measure.