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Blake Shelton is firing back at critics who accused him and wife Gwen Stefani of misleading fans during their American Music Awards (AMAs) appearances. On May 28, Shelton addressed the backlash after fans learned their performances were not live at the awards ceremony, but instead pre-recorded segments aired during the broadcast.
Disappointed fans took to social media to express their frustration, especially those in attendance at the venue. One TikTok user who filmed from the balcony of the event claimed the audience was misled. “‘We’ve been lied to,'” the user wrote, showing footage of Shelton and Stefani’s performances playing on screens rather than live on stage.
Shelton quickly responded to the criticism via a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Just now seeing these stories about Gwen and I pre taping our performances for the AMA’s. We came and performed when the show asked us to… Really nothing else to say.”
Stefani performed a medley of hits in celebration of the 20th anniversary of her debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Meanwhile, Shelton delivered a rendition of his latest single “Stay Country Or Die Tryin’”—but both acts had been recorded prior to the actual event.
The situation caused confusion among attendees, especially as the show introduced Shelton’s segment with the announcement “and here’s Blake live.” That phrasing led many to believe they were about to witness a live performance, only to be shown pre-recorded footage on screen instead.
“The craziest part of the AMAs last night was being told ‘and here’s Blake live’ only for them to light up the stage like he’s there, and never saying to us it was pre recorded,” the same TikTok user explained.
Online commenters didn’t hold back, with one remarking, “LOL even the performers didn’t show up,” while another joked, “Gwen Stefani performing live! … somewhere else!” Despite the backlash, Shelton’s response was brief and firm, maintaining that he and Stefani fulfilled their commitment as requested by the show organizers. Though some fans remain disappointed, others have defended the couple, noting that pre-recorded performances are a common practice in televised award shows.
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