Charlie Puth Faces Backlash After Performing the U.S. National Anthem at the Super Bowl
Charlie Puth was chosen to perform the United States national anthem ahead of this year’s Super Bowl, an assignment widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in American music. Stepping onto the stage just minutes before kickoff, the 34-year-old singer delivered a rendition that many viewers initially praised as stirring and emotionally resonant, drawing admiration for its precision and polished vocal delivery.
Yet despite the intensity of the moment, controversy followed almost immediately. Not long after the anthem ended, viewers began posting online about something they felt was off, igniting a wave of speculation and heated discussion across social platforms.
Super Bowl LX, hosted at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, showcased a high-profile clash between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. As is often the case, the entertainment surrounding the game proved nearly as polarizing as the matchup itself. From pregame acts to the halftime spectacle, audiences analyzed every performance in detail.
Early debate focused on the announcement that Bad Bunny would headline the halftime show, a choice that sharply split public opinion. Some celebrated it as progressive and culturally inclusive, while others questioned whether he suited the NFL’s biggest stage. At the same time, Green Day, who appeared during the pregame segment, drew criticism from certain viewers who believed their performance of “American Idiot” carried subtle political undertones directed at the Trump administration, reigniting familiar tensions between entertainment and politics.
Following Green Day, Charlie Puth took center stage to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner.” By professional standards, his rendition appeared technically flawless. He maintained vocal control throughout, hitting each note cleanly and sustaining the anthem’s emotional tone.
Ironically, that very precision became the source of suspicion. Some viewers argued the performance sounded too perfect, leading to accusations that Puth may have lip-synced rather than sung live.
“Seemed like Charlie Puth was lip-syncing the national anthem,” one user wrote on X. “Anyone else think that? It was too perfect. Not a single note off.”
Others responded more harshly. “We’ve gone too far. Lip-syncing the national anthem?” another post read. “This used to be an honor. Embarrassing.”
A third commenter wrote, “Never seen a more obvious lip-sync than Charlie Puth. Clearly pre-recorded,” while another added, “CharliePuth is lip-syncing for his life.”
Despite the online uproar, no official statement has confirmed or denied the claims. Performances at events as large as the Super Bowl often rely on intricate audio engineering, including backing tracks and broadcast safeguards designed to prevent technical failures. These production layers can make it difficult to distinguish between fully live vocals and supported performances.
As a result, whether Puth’s anthem was entirely live or technically assisted remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the volume of speculation has been enough to fuel ongoing debate. Once again, the Super Bowl demonstrated that even a performance widely praised for its excellence can quickly become a focal point of controversy in the social media era.
