When I first heard that the young Chinese girl who sang at the Opening Ceremonies in Beijing was lip-syncing I hardly flinched. So what? She’s a little girl, they didn’t want her to mess up. I get it.

Also, the broadcast of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony used CGI fireworks, because of the smog-filled skies, Chinese officials said. The fake fireworks didn’t really get under my skin either. It is the 21st century.

Then this morning I found out that the real reason Lin Miaoke (the girl we all saw perform) was lip-syncing was because the actual singer was too ugly. It wasn’t her voice at all we heard. It was the voice of a chubby faced, crooked toothed, 7-year-old Yang Peiyi. According to what the chief music director told state-owned Beijing Radio she wasn’t good looking enough for the ceremony. She’s still pretty damn cute for a 7-year-old!

Peiyi later told China Central Television that just having her voice used was an honor. Well, probably because they were about to cane her.

China was so worried about being perfect, and projecting the perfect image. China just pisses me off.

Gilbert Felli, the IOC’s director of the Olympic Games, compared the choice to that a coach makes when he bumps a rower out of a four-man boat in favor of a stronger competitor.

read more: ap, washington post, canada.com, bloomberg