Ashlee Simpson on SNL
Photo Credit: Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Ashlee Simpson Still Reflects on Humiliating SNL Lip-Sync Debacle — Calls It ‘Dehumanizing’

Ashlee Simpson experienced a career-changing moment back in 2004. While appearing on Saturday Night Live with her band, a series of unfortunate events unfolded. Her first song went off without a hitch. Yet, her second performance on this late-night sketch comedy series landed differently. In that moment, we all learned that Ashlee had been lip synching, which sadly left the pop star in a “dehumanizing” place.

Ashlee Simpson admits the “bullying was insane” after SNL

Ashlee Simpson
Photo Credit: Paul Archuleta via Getty Images

When she was only 20 years old, Ashlee experienced a humiliating moment, making her the first musician ever to exit the stage during an SNL performance. While standing onstage, ready to sing her hit song, Pieces of Me, the music played, but she was not singing. Hearing her voice, Ashlee froze. Then, she danced a little jig and walked off the stage as the show cut to an impromptu commercial break.

Everyone felt confused. But then, confusion quickly turned into cutting chatters, leaving this young woman forever scarred. Now, in an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Ashlee is opening up about how “intense” this experience actually was.

That night, Ashlee had a bout of severe acid reflux alongside a sore throat, which made it impossible for her to sing anything well. So, her manager made the call that Ashlee would use a pre-recorded vocal track. But when it came time for her second song, the wrong recording started playing, leaving Ashlee confused about how to proceed.

For Ashlee, this moment “was such a lesson,” she explained. “You hate me so much because I lost my voice? It was such a dehumanizing feeling that I had to remember who I was and why I was doing this. People’s perception of you is not who you are. Learning that at a young age was — whew! It was intense,” Ashlee stressed.

But the horrific reactions she received only made her stronger. “When you’re faced with something so traumatic, where the world is looking at a young girl this way, you either hide or you fight and keep going. And I just kept going,”

TELL US – DO YOU REMEMBER THIS MOMENT? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BACKLASH ASHLEE RECEIVED?

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