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Carey's
team is blaming Dick Clark Productions, the production company behind
the annual "New Year's Rockin' Eve" special on ABC, saying the company
"set her up to fail." And Dick Clark Productions is firing back.
"As
the premier producer of live television events for nearly 50 years, we
pride ourselves on our reputation and long-standing relationships with
artists.
To suggest that DCP, as producer of music shows including the
American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, New Year's Rockin' Eve
and Academy of Country Music Awards, would ever intentionally compromise
the success of any artist is defamatory, outrageous and frankly
absurd," Dick Clark Productions said in a statement provided to CNN.
The
statement continued: "In very rare instances there are of course
technical errors that can occur with live television, however, an
initial investigation has indicated that [Dick Clark Productions] had no
involvement in the challenges associated with Ms.
Carey's New Year's
Eve performance. We want to be clear that we have the utmost respect for
Ms. Carey as an artist and acknowledge her tremendous accomplishments
in the industry."
Their response comes after Carey's team spoke to Billboard
magazine and claimed that Carey, who had attended a rehearsal earlier
in the day, had alerted Dick Clark Productions that her ear piece was
not working.
Carey's publicist, Nicole Perna, said that her client "was
not winging this moment and took it very seriously" and added, "A shame
that production set her up to fail."
Perna
separately said to CNN, "There was a production issue. Technical
difficulties. Unfortunately there was nothing she could do to continue
with the performance given the circumstances."
As
for Carey singing along to a track, a source close to her said: "It is
not uncommon for artists to sing to track during certain live
performances."
Carey took the stage
shortly before midnight for a three song set, first performing "Auld
Lang Syne" before moving to her own song, the 1991 hit "Emotions."
That's when things started visibly going downhill.
While the track
played, Carey told the audience that a proper sound check had not taken
place and opted to let those in the crowd sing her lyrics. After walking
off stage in a huff after attempting to sing her hit, "We belong
together," Carey took to Instagram to post a meme with the caption: Sh**
happens. Have a happy and healthy new year everybody! Here's to making
more headlines in 2017."