Wautier performed her song “1%” on Tuesday night, but many viewers noticed that her voice did not match the music. In a Facebook post afterward, she acknowledged the issue and expressed regret, saying the incident harmed her reputation, image, dignity, and career aspirations, according to Thairath.

She explained that organizers had instructed her to lip-sync to ensure a smooth performance. However, her microphone was accidentally turned on during the performance, while her in-ear monitor did not play her own live vocals. This resulted in her real voice being broadcast out of sync with the pre-recorded track.

Wautier said she seldom lip-syncs and wished she could have sung live, even imperfectly, because it would have shown her true skill. She added that she would have adjusted her equipment had she known the audio system was malfunctioning.

Her boyfriend, Kao Jirayu, lead singer of the Thai rock band Retrospect, later voiced his disappointment with the event organizers on Facebook.

The song SEA Games 33 conveys a message of will

At the ceremony, Wautier performed alongside rappers Golf F.Hero and Twopee. Many Thai fans had high expectations for the segment, especially because BamBam of South Korean group GOT7 also appeared.

Wautier, 32, who is Belgian-Thai, is one of Thailand’s most-streamed English-language artists, known for her hit single “Smoke,” and she also works as an actress.

The opening ceremony at Rajamangala Stadium lasted two and a half hours and blended traditional and modern performances. It also faced multiple technical challenges, including a 30-minute delay that forced hosts to ad-lib.

The SEA Games, held every two years, run from Dec. 9 to 20 this year, featuring 574 events in 50 sports.