Jay-Z's reunion with Alicia Keys for “Empire State of Mind” at the Tony Awards was pre-taped, despite appearing live, according to an official who spoke with The Associated Press.
The rapper's appearance to support Keys' musical “Hell's Kitchen” excited the audience but revealed Hollywood trickery, contrasting with Broadway's live performance tradition.
Representatives from Jay-Z's Roc Nation and White Cherry Entertainment did not respond to inquiries about the performance's authenticity.
“Hell's Kitchen” won awards for stars Maleah Joi Moon and Kecia Lewis. The musical, inspired by Keys' childhood, features old and new songs but Keys does not perform in it.
At the Tony Awards, “Hell's Kitchen” was the first nominee to perform, featuring a medley of songs, including Keys' hit “Fallin’.”
Alicia Keys appeared at the piano on the stage and began singing “Empire State of Mind.” She then left the stage, joined Jay-Z on the venue's steps, and performed to wild applause.
There were no photos of the performers live, and a pre-taped version of their duet was shown to the TV audience and on a video screen inside the venue. Jay-Z was not seen entering the auditorium.
While some Tony Awards segments are pre-taped, musical performances are typically live, adding to the sense of authenticity for Broadway audiences.