Following her troubling live performance during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest in New York City on Saturday, ET has learned that the "Emotions" singer is no longer working with her longtime creative director and tour choreographer/dancer, Anthony Burrell.
"He's not being brought back [in 2017] for a number of reasons," a source close to Carey told ET on Tuesday. The source claims that part of the reason for Burrell's departure is due to a placement decision he allegedly made without the approval of Carey or her management team.
According to the source, the Philadelphia native -- who is currently featured on Carey's eight-part docuseries, Mariah's World -- moved Carey's backup singers off the stage for the live performance in Times Square, putting them at the base of the risers in order to make more room for the dancers.
Burrell and his manager did not respond to multiple requests from ET for comment regarding his dismissal. ET also reached out to Dick Clark Productions to verify that the backup singers were moved near the risers. DCP told ET they have "no further comment" on Carey's performance.
The source further explained to ET that Burrell's decision to move the backup dancers offstage "left Mariah without any support," as backup singers can be a source of support and help an artist pick up cues if their inner earpieces don't work and they can't hear the music.
Following the performance, Burrell took to Twitter on Monday, writing, "I haven't been able to watch NYE performance. 30 sec from live TV, boss couldn't hear her own vocal in her in-ears from Mic. #heartbroken."
See Mariah Carey through the years:
