Busted! 'The X Factor' Admits to Lip Syncing (Watch the Video Evidence)

First there was the mysterious case of the pants-dropping Geo Godley, who flashed his junk at the audience to attract attention but mysteriously wasn't arrested. Then came charges from contestant Dexter Haygood, who claimed this week that the competition was rigged against him.

Now comes an admission from "The X Factor" that the singing show allows lip syncing.

The lip syncing issue came up this week, when audience members pointed out a rather obvious example of contestant Leroy Bell's voice being heard before he even had a microphone to his lips.

Shockingly, the show's representatives responded to allegations by admitting that they allow li syncing for ensemble groups. Say what? Isn't this a singing show?

"All survival songs are performed live, with just a backing track. For the group ensemble performance, the vocals are pre-recorded to allow acts to concentrate on preparing for their own live competitive performances on Wednesdays -- this is also no different to what other competition shows do for ensemble performances," said "The X Factor" representatives.

So yes, sometimes the songs are lip synced. Does that surprise you? The other shows totally do it. You know, the other shows (not that we're naming names - cough "American Idol" cough).

Is this really the excuse "The X Factor" is making for fooling audiences?

If a singing talent show is going to use fake singing, shouldn't the audience know that what they're seeing is fake? Especially if there is voting involved in determining who the most talented singers are?

Is something missing here? Like maybe an apology? With every week, the fishy smell around "The X Factor" just keeps getting fishier.

Watch Leroy Bell blatantly lip sync on "The X Factor" (at about :03 in the clip):