It was previously confirmed that Beyonce has mimed the national anthem at President Obama's inauguration, and fans were even starting to jump to the singer's defence surrounding the controversy. However, a previous statement from the U.S. Marine band, which stated that she had in fact mouthed the lyrics, has been updated to a more neutral stance.

A spokesperson for the band has initially said that Beyonce "decided to go with the pre-recorded music at the last minute", and that she was not actually singing the anthem, but now their official line has changed, and the U.S. Marine band have backtracked, saying in a statement: "Regarding Ms. Knowles-Carter's vocal performance, no one in the Marine Band is in a position to assess whether it was live or pre-recorded." The statement said the band and Beyonce had no chance to rehearse together before Monday's inauguration "so it was determined that a live performance by the band was ill-advised for such a high-profile event. Each piece of music scheduled for performance in the Inauguration is pre-recorded for use in case of freezing temperatures, equipment failure, or extenuating circumstances," the Marine Band added.

The controversy has caused quite a stir, with some fans dismissing it as a well known trope of modern pop stars, and others likening Beyonce to cyclist Lance Armstrong, saying she cheated. Weird.