BREAKING. The X Factor USA rocked by lip singing scandal; contestants are only performing but not actually singing live.

Reality show The X Factor USA (M-Net, Saturdays, 18:00, Sundays 16:00) is being rocked by a lip synching scandal, with Leroy Bell's voice that was heard before he lifted his microphone and started to sing to a pre-recorded track.

The pre-recorded singing dished up as a live act to viewers will come as a big embarrassement to Simon Cowell as The X Factor USA, with The X Factor UK that suffered two scandals for using Auto-Tune to enhance contestants' voices.

The X Factor USA has just released a statement saying ''All songs are performed live, with just a backing track.'' [My initialisation. Note the difference from the word sung.]

This lip synching embarrassement might affect viewership for the show in America, as well as possibly in South Africa. The X Factor USA was renewed for a second season in America earlier this week. The X Factor USA is the 7th most popular show on M-Net according to the latest viewership figures available for this week, tying with Army Wives and a 0,7 AR.