Jumping on social media to call out lip syncing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has become a tradition on the U.S. holiday.
“Welcome to the Macy's Bad Lip Syncing Day Parade!,” read one tweet on Thursday. Someone asked: “Anyone else watching the Macy’s lip syncing parade?”
(In 2018, John Legend explained: “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.”)
Due to COVID-19, this year’s spectacular in New York City was spectator-free. Viewers at home saw a three-hour combination of live and pre-taped performances and, as always, every singer was lip syncing – including Bebe Rexha, Pentatonix, CNCO and Brett Young.
“Macy’s thanksgiving parade without a crowd makes the lip syncing even more obvious and bad," someone opined on Twitter. Another decided: “The lip syncing is worse than usual for the Macy’s parade."
Here’s a sample of reactions to this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade – or, as TV writer Damian Holbrook called it, “How the Cringe Stole Christmas."
These performers waving on these floats as if they have a physical audience is why I have trust issues. Who are you waving to?#MacysParade
— Diddy (@DiddyCoombs) November 26, 2020
The broadcast is absolute garbage. I guess it’s to be expected in 2020. #VerizonLive #macysparade
— Brian Lickert (@blickert) November 26, 2020
ngl the pentatonix are doing a terrible job lip syncing at the macy’s parade and it’s lowkey embarrassing
— bernie sanders stunt double (@oldtowntoad) November 26, 2020
I have information that can lead to the arrest of Pentatonix
— adam? (@kingofthelocals) November 26, 2020
It’s a fun tradition to watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and ask why they still have artists lip-syncing their songs.
— Jacob Koehler (@becausejake) November 26, 2020
Do they think they’re fooling anyone?
I’m unsure why I watch it every year, because the Macy’s parade is chock full of everything I hate.
— nashpropst (@nashpropst) November 26, 2020
Musical theater.
Acapella groups.
Lip-syncing.
Clowns.
Bah. Hum. Bug.
Why can’t they just leave their masks on while performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade?????? Like?????? You’re literally lip-syncing it will not matter if you have your mask on??????? Wtf....
— Elizabeth (@elizabetttafish) November 26, 2020
If the singers in the Macy's parade are bad at lip syncing anyway, what don't they just wear their masks?
— Jackkabob (@jack_kabob) November 26, 2020
Watching the Macy’s thanksgiving parade and feels like covid has highlighted the inherent late capitalist absurdity of it all? Brands™️ sponsoring tacky floats topped by D-listers lip syncing, but now there’s no crowd and everyone is masked. Just a deeply silly viewing experience
— Evan Michael (@evanmgoodrich) November 26, 2020
Welcome to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2020! Featuring a D-list singer you’ve never heard of badly lip-syncing on a random branded float that has nothing to do with anything. Merry Christmas!
— Voting Word Lady (@TheRealRynnstar) November 26, 2020
for the past 100 yrs my family has spent every thanksgiving morning arguing over who is lip syncing in the Macy’s parade even tho everyone is lip syncing
— caroline (@cjinksy) November 26, 2020
The lip-syncing on The Macy’s Thanksgiving is so bad, it looks like the English voice overs on old Kung-Fu movies.
— Nate Behnkie (@behnkie) November 26, 2020
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the biggest farce I’ve ever given 5 minutes of my life to. No one is there. The entertainers are lip syncing and waving to non existent crowds and the hosts all have fake smiles on their faces. It truly is an alternate universe. #Fakery
— Longshoreman (@Longshoreman20) November 26, 2020
Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Commentators: "This year New Yorkers get to experience the parade like the rest of America."
— Jason Steinmann (@JasonJSteinmann) November 26, 2020
They finally get to experience what pop stars look like lip syncing on the streets of NYC.#MacysThanksgivingParade