Mariah Carey’s behavior at awards show gains widespread attention on the internet

Mariah Carey had a strong reaction to a music tribute before receiving the Icon Award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards. Her response has become widely shared on social media.

The 55-year-old singer, known for hits like “Obsessed”, recently caused concern with a live performance. At the awards ceremony in L.A., both Muni Long and Tori Kelly sang some of Carey’s classic songs.

During Long’s performance of “We Belong Together,” the camera captured a moment when Carey turned her head away from the stage, giving a noticeable side-eye glance to her right.

Sitting next to the songstress was rumored boyfriend Anderson .Paak who could be seen enthusiastically grooving to the tune. 

Another moment that was also caught on camera showed Mariah with a big grin on her face – which slowly faded as the performance continued. 

Fans quickly shared their own thoughts on X, with one penning, ‘Mariah Carey is not feeling these performances and is not hiding that fact. lol #iHeartAwards 2025 #MariahCarey.’

‘I have so many questions…,’ another wrote, and one added, ‘This going to be a new Meme! i’m telling you.’ 

A social media user typed, ‘Mariah watching ppl butchering her songs lol,’ and a fan commented, ‘Mariah Carey reaction to Muni Long singing her song just SENT ME OMFG.’ 

‘The way Mariah Carey can’t help but show her disinterest on her face but I get it I’m the same my face tells everything. She cracks me up. Personally I thought Tori killed it though!’ another penned. 

One added, ‘Now mfs mad at Mariah.. Man Mariah Carey a real vocalist bruh. Of course she don’t want yall performing her song.’

‘Mariah Carey high or drunk during this awards show. LMFAOOOOOO,’ and another questioned, ‘Okay who’s got the tea on what’s up with Mariah Carey cuz….?’

An X user wrote, ‘She in her head wondering why they didn’t get ariana to do the tribute,’ and another shared, ‘Now why would they make anybody sing a Mariah Carey song in front of Mariah Carey.’ 

‘Mariah Carey hell omg she can’t hid her facial reaction for nothing omg,’ one added, and another penned, ‘Mariah feel insulted… she looked around yall like this.’

After the music tribute from Long and Kelly, host LL Cool J presented the award to the songstress who took to the stage wearing a fitted, black gown with dramatic material around her shoulders. 

While accepting the honor, Carey kicked off her speech by humorously asking the audience, ‘Is the lighting okay, because I don’t like bad lighting.’

She then showcased her ensemble and expressed how it had always been a ‘dream’ to hear herself on the radio. 

‘Even now I still get excited when I hear one of my songs playing on the radio. It never stops being magical.’

Mariah gave a special shout out to her fans and then also paid a loving tribute to her late mother Patricia Carey who passed away last year in August. 

‘On this Saint Patrick’s Day, I want to honor my mother Patricia Carey for giving me the gift of music,’ the star emotionally concluded. 

Carey later posed with her award on the carpet and better showed off her glammed up look for the big night. Her long locks were parted to the side, and flowed down past her shoulders in elegant curls. 

She accessorized the gown with silver earrings as well as an eye-catching necklace with a large diamond pendant on the front. 

The Fantasy hitmaker joined other star-studded guests who also walked the red carpet at the event, such as Kelsea Ballerini.  

Ballerini – who announced Kenny Chesney ahead of his performance – showed off her sculpted midriff wearing a sparkling, dark gray bandeau top and matching skirt that flowed down towards the ground. 

She slipped into a pair of closed-toed, silver heels to coincide with the color scheme of her look. 

Kelsea’s blonde locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves.  

The songstress opted for minimal accessories to allow her dress to be the main focal point, and added a pair of silver earrings and a few flashy rings on each of her hands. 

Ballerini’s makeup was classically done, and comprised of a layer of mascara as well as a smoky shadow around her eyes. 

A warm blush and contour was added to better accentuate her cheekbones while a nude-colored glossy tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch. 

Kelsea flashed a cheerful smile as she posed for a brief photo session upon arriving to the venue ahead of the main awards ceremony. 

The beauty – who is currently dating Outer Banks actor Chase Stokes – has been busy with her latest tour which is in support of her album Patterns which dropped last year in October. 

The tour kicked off earlier this year in January and is slated to run through April – with the final concert taking place in Toronto on April 13. 

Last month in February, some of her shows were postponed due to an illness and her March 28 concert in Las Vegas was also cancelled – although a reason was not given. 

She is set to perform on stage this week on March 18 in Sacramento, followed by dates this weekend in Los Angeles and San Diego. 

During an interview with People at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday, the singer gushed that her new tour has been a ‘dream.’ 

‘To finally be able to be here and and play those stages in the rooms that I’ve opened for all my favorite artists in, and seen my favorite artists in, it’s really full circle,’ Kelsea said. 

‘I make it a point that I have a show for everyone, whether you want to be there for escapism and [are looking to] disassociate from whatever you have going on in your life, or you want to feel connected to yourself and your feelings.’ 

Madison Beer put on a leggy display at the event by donning a figure-hugging, black sequin minidress. 

A small cutout could be seen on the upper portion of the ensemble which also contained a hem that stopped inches above her knees. 

The Hurts Like Hell singer also wore a pair of closed-toed, black pumps and allowed her long brunette locks to cascade down past her shoulders in elegant curls. 

Beer accessorized the red carpet look with a pair of dainty silver earrings and a few rings on each of her hands. 

Madison’s makeup was glammed up and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as pink blush to her cheekbones. For a final touch, the star opted for a nude-colored matte tint to her lips.  

Ashanti was edgy wearing a long-sleeved, black dress that had a small cutout on the front as well as a leather skirt that clung to her frame. 

The Foolish hitmaker additionally wore a pair of open-toed heels and pulled back her locks into a sleek ponytail. 

The star further glammed up her ensemble with large, gold hooped earrings and chunky gold bracelets on each of her wrists. 

Ashanti was also joined by her husband Nelly – whom she tied the knot with in 2023 – and the couple paused for memorable snaps together. 

The Hot In Herre rapper donned a pair of black leather trousers as well as a matching Prada jacket. He also sported a plain black shirt and a flashy, silver-chained necklace as well as stylish black shades. 

Gracie Abrams was chic in a short-sleeved, fitted gray dress that fell down towards the ground and was paired with sheer, black gloves. 

The singer’s dark locks were parted in the middle and styled into an up do, allowing loose wavy strands to border the sides of her face. 

The Close To You hitmaker completed the look with a pair of dangly, sparkling silver earrings and a flashy ring on her right hand. 

Tori Spelling also walked the red carpet and made a statement wearing a flowy, light blue skirt with dazzling details and contained thick straps that wrapped around her shoulders. 

The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum wore a cropped, white tank top underneath and styled her blonde locks into two separate braids. 

She added blue butterfly embellishments into her hair and slipped into a pair of Converse sneakers for a casual flare to the ensemble. 

GloRilla turned heads in a form-fitting, black dress that had multiple cutouts on the front for a sultry flare. 

The gown had lace details around the bodice and the skirt shimmered under the bright lights on the red carpet. 

The Wanna Be performer carried a mini, sparkling gold purse that was in the shape of a money bag. 

Her blonde locks were parted to the side, and fell down straight to brush past her shoulders on the right side.  

Brandi Cyrus flashed a smile as she posed in a fitted black dress that fell down past her knees and also slipped into open-toed, black heels that were secured with thin straps.

The star’s hair was parted in the middle, and cascaded down past her shoulders in light waves. 

Muni Long wowed in a dazzling gold, halter-styled gown that had a plunging neckline on the front and fell into a short train. 

The Made For Me songstress styled her locks into a chic up do, allowing a few loose strands to border the left side of her face. 

The star accessorized the outfit with dangly earrings as well as a few rings on each of her hands for a flashy flare. 

Long won the award for R&B Song of the Year for Made For Me and cheerfully posed with her trophy on the red carpet. 

Jenny McCarthy stunned at the awards show in a sheer chainmail dress and also showed off the backless portion that offered a sultry flare. The model’s blonde hair was parted to the side and styled into a damp look. 

She slipped into a pair of open-toed, gold heels to coincide with the color scheme of her red carpet outfit.  

The actress opted to not add any flashy pieces of jewelry to allow her dress to be the main focal point for the evening. 

McCarthy was accompanied by her husband Donnie Wahlberg – whom she tied the knot with in 2014. 

The New Kids On The Block singer donned a light blue suit as well as a dark brown dress shirt underneath. 

The Sixth Sense actor – who is also the brother of Mark Wahlberg – completed the look with brown leather shoes as well as stylish shades. 

The couple paused for a quick photo session on the red carpet, and at one point, they also shared a sweet kiss for the cameras. 

Gia Giudice dressed for the occasion wearing a strapless, dark navy minidress that had a ruched skirt. 

The ensemble contained additional fabric on the right side that fell down onto the ground for a dramatic flare. 

The star’s brunette locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in elegant waves.  

Brittany Cartwright was fashionable in a strapless, burgundy-colored latex dress that fell down past her ankles. 

The reality star slipped into black pumps and carried a black and white Fendi purse in her hand. Her hair was parted to the side, and cascaded down past her shoulders in light waves. 

Cartwright was seen posing for a snap with Janet Caperna who donned a sleeveless, brown dress with a drop-down waist and small cutout on the left side. 

Ariana Madix turned heads wearing an eye-catching gold minidress with material that reached up towards her neck. 

The outfit contained a belt that wrapped around her waist and the Vanderpump Rules star slipped into shiny, open-toed gold heels. 

The TV personality was also joined by her boyfriend Daniel Wai who wore a green suit as well as a dark green shirt underneath. 

During the festivities, the lovebirds paused to share a loving kiss while pausing for pictures together. 

Nikki Glaser also glammed up for the event in a sheer, shimmering silver dress and also opted for silver heels.  

The comedian’s blonde hair was parted in the middle, and flowed down in light waves past her shoulders. 

Jojo Siwa looked unrecognizable on the red carpet and sported a pair of light blue, baggy jeans that were covered with sparkling, silver embellishments as well as marching denim jacket.

Underneath, she also donned a pastel pink Versace bralette top and matching bottoms that peaked through the waist of her pants.

For a finishing touch to the overall outfit, the Karma singer slipped into a pair of white sneakers that had dazzling details as well as a peach-colored trim.

Siwa – who rose to fame on the Lifetime reality series – ditched her blonde locks and opted for a brunette shade as the strands fell down straight past her shoulders.

The TV personality added shimmering, pink horns on top of her head that held up more locks that were placed around a circular headpiece. 

Additional crystals were also added to the headpiece for a head-turning look. 

JaeXlynne sported a pair of black leather pants as well as a short-sleeved jacket and a pair of black combat boots. 

The singer additionally wore a short-sleeved jacket on top and turned away from the camera to show that ‘F*** Elon’ was printed on the back. 

The star also wore a pair of hooped earrings as well as gold bracelets that were placed on her right wrist. 

Doechii showed off her preppy side in a gray pleated skirt as well as a gray and brown bomber jacket. 

She opted to only wear a white bralette top underneath and slipped into dark gray socks as well as sleek, dark brown pumps. 

Zoe Ko made a statement while wearing a dress that appeared to be constructed out of plastic shopping bags. 

The star donned a pair of leopard-print heels as well as elbow-length, black fishnet gloves for an edgy flare to the outfit.  

Blu DeTiger walked the red carpet in a semi-sheer, dark navy blue dress that was held up with a thin strap that wrapped around her right shoulder. 

She slipped into a pair of open-toed, black heels and allowed her platinum blonde locks to flow down past her shoulders. 

GloRilla later stepped on the red carpet once again after winning Hip-Hop Artist of the Year. 

While posing with the silver trophy, the singer donned shiny gold pants as well as a matching bralette top with a plunging neckline. 

Bad Bunny held his award for Latin Pop/Urban Song of the Year while sporting a pair of black pants as well as a black sweater and white shirt underneath. 

The Puerto-Rican rapper also donned a black glove that held a bouquet of pink roses. 

Nelly opted for casual comfort in cream-colored sweats on the red carpet while holding his Music Landmark Award. 

Billie Eilish was also in attendance and joined her brother Finneas in a pair of white trousers as well as a black sweater and blazer on top. 

Her sibling was dapper in a black suit which he paired with a printed shirt underneath for a final touch. 

Later in the evening, the Birds Of A Feather singer had an outfit change and posed with Gracie Abrams in a blue and white-striped shirt as well as blue jeans and a multi-colored jacket.