Mariah Carey, the undisputed Queen of Christmas and one of the best-selling artists of all time, became the center of online discussion following her appearance at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards. The celebrated singer, 55, was honored at LA’s Dolby Theater on Monday night, where she received the prestigious Icon Award. However, while the night was meant to celebrate her legacy, a viral moment involving her reaction to a tribute performance stole the show.
Mariah’s Side-Eye Sparks Internet Frenzy
During the awards ceremony, rising R&B star Muni Long took the stage to perform Carey’s classic hit We Belong Together. While the audience appeared to enjoy the performance, cameras caught a seemingly unenthusiastic Carey glancing away from the stage. Her facial expression—particularly what many described as a legendary side-eye—was directed toward her rumored boyfriend, Anderson .Paak, who was seated beside her.
As expected, social media wasted no time dissecting the moment. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) flooded the platform with hilarious takes, with many speculating on Carey’s thoughts at that exact moment.
Fans React to Mariah’s Expression
One fan wrote, “Mariah Carey’s face never lies. If she doesn’t like something, you’ll know!” Another user joked, “She was probably wondering why Ariana Grande wasn’t the one singing instead.” Others suggested that Carey’s expression would soon be turned into a viral meme, cementing its place in internet history.
Another popular post read, “This reminds me of her infamous ‘I don’t know her’ moment with J.Lo. A true diva never hides her feelings!”
While some speculated that Carey was unimpressed with the performance, others defended her, arguing that she may have simply been lost in thought or distracted at that particular moment.
Mariah Carey’s Iconic Acceptance Speech
Despite the viral side-eye, Carey later took the stage to accept the 2025 iHeartRadio Icon Award, presented by legendary rapper LL Cool J. As expected, her acceptance speech was nothing short of a classic Mariah moment.
Before even diving into her speech, Carey made sure to check the stage lighting. “Is the lighting OK?” she teased, drawing laughter from the audience. “Because I don’t like bad lighting.”
