Operatic star Denise Leigh who performed at the Paralympics opening ceremony has lodged a complaint against Deepa Shastri who signed for the singer throughout the musical number, claiming she has damaged her reputation with 'hopelessly flat' signing. The accusation is backed up by hundreds of tweets from deaf viewers.
'Excrutiating', tweeted one. 'Her signing was so flat I had to put my hands over my eyes.'
Another tweeted, "Shastri's diction was spot on but oh, so under the note I had to leave the room.'
Shastri hit back claiming she only signed what she heard. "Leigh was under the note on many occasion. People may blame me for signing flat but listen back to it and you'll hear I am right.'
But Leigh is adamant she has been mis-represented. My singing was in tune. Her signing was flat. If she can't sign in tune what's she doing at the Paralympic opening ceremony?'
The controversy has detracted from an otherwise spectacular night of people entering the stadium and standing around waiting for something to happen.