Mariah Carey<\/strong><\/a> finally received her flowers at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards<\/strong><\/a>, but the night didn\u2019t go as smoothly as she may have hoped.<\/p>\n The \u201cObsessed\u201d singer was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and performed a medley of her greatest hits.<\/p>\n However, what should have been a career highlight quickly turned into a debate online, with fans dragging her performance and reviving long-standing criticisms about her stage presence.<\/p>\n Carey made sure to celebrate her long-awaited recognition with humor.<\/p>\n Accepting her first-ever VMA, the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, she poked fun at MTV for taking nearly three decades to honor her.<\/p>\n \u201cI just had one question. What in the Sam Hill were you waiting for?\u201d she quipped, before adding, \u201cI\u2019m kidding. I love you!\u201d<\/p>\n Presented by Ariana Grande, who praised her as a musical influence, Mariah received the award after a glittering performance of hits like \u201cSugar Sweet,\u201d \u201cFantasy,\u201d \u201cHoney,\u201d \u201cObsessed,\u201d and \u201cIt\u2019s Like That.\u201d<\/p>\n Wearing a gold bodysuit, she told the crowd, \u201cMusic videos are my way of life\u2026 let\u2019s be honest, sometimes, it\u2019s just an excuse to bring the drama and do things I wouldn\u2019t do in real life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve learned that music evolves, videos evolve, but the fun \u2014 that is eternal,” she continued. “Thank you, MTV, for playing my videos.”<\/p>\n Later, in a backstage clip, Carey jokingly reflected on finally receiving the honor for the second time.<\/p>\n She noted that it was the first time in her career she had been given a Moonman trophy and expressed her gratitude to MTV.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you so much, MTV. This is amazing,\u201d she said per The Independent<\/a>, before joking about the long wait. \u201cI don\u2019t know why it took so long to happen, but\u2026 hehe just kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the applause in the arena, many viewers watching at home weren\u2019t impressed.<\/p>\n On X, fans mocked her performance as low-energy and uninspired. Several said she appeared stiff and barely moved on stage.<\/p>\n \u201cMariah Carey being introduced as the queen of vocals and she\u2019s just lip syncing,\u201d one user wrote per the Daily Mail<\/a>. Another added, \u201cMariah doing the least possible movement.\u201d<\/p>\n Some went further, accusing Carey of giving fans little effort.<\/p>\n One person commented, \u201cMariah stay giving us the bare minimum,\u201d while another said, \u201cMariah out here all stiff and s**t\u2026 girl if you got back problems tell \u2019em you can\u2019t perform.\u201d<\/p>\n Others simply remarked that she was \u201cjust existing on stage\u201d and \u201cnot moving at all.\u201d<\/p>\n MEGA<\/p>\n Not all the reactions were negative, as some viewers found her minimal effort amusing and strangely iconic.<\/p>\n One fan posted, \u201cLiterally she just walks back and forth,\u201d while another joked, \u201cMariah Carey you go girl give us nothing you icon.\u201d<\/p>\n A third noted, \u201cI love Mariah Carey\u2019s voice but she\u2019s got less energy than me on a Sunday night.\u201d<\/p>\n Another fan chimed in that she was \u201clike a statue on stage it\u2019s so FUNNY omfg.\u201d<\/p>\n An impressed fan added, “Mariah literally has nothing to prove she’s been doing it for more than 30 YEARSSS she is an Icon she’s Legendaryyy!!! Thee Songbird Supreme!”<\/p>\n Others looked at the criticism differently, seeing it as part of what makes her stand out, with one tweet reading, \u201cMariah Carey legit has absolutely zero stage presence it\u2019s honestly so iconic.\u201d<\/p>\n Mariah Carey\u2019s playful VMAs jab wasn\u2019t the first time she has spoken out about being overlooked by major award shows.<\/p>\n Just weeks earlier, she blasted the Grammys during an appearance on Pitchfork\u2019s \u201cOver\/Under<\/a>\u201d YouTube series.<\/p>\n When asked about the music industry\u2019s biggest award, she responded bluntly, \u201cHa, I think the Grammys are overrated.\u201d<\/p>\n She clarified that she meant both the event and the award itself, while still softening her statement with, \u201cBut we love everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n The comments reminded people of her tense relationship with the Grammys, as many believe the awards have failed to honor her legacy in pop and R&B.<\/p>\nMariah Carey Jokes About VMAs Snub While Accepting Lifetime Honor<\/h2>\n
Carey\u2019s Performance Sparks Backlash Online<\/h2>\n
Fans Say Mariah Carey Is \u2018Iconic\u2019 Even While Doing The Bare Minimum<\/h2>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
Carey Previously Slammed The Grammys For Snubbing Her<\/h2>\n
Fans Previously Raised Concerns Over Mariah Carey\u2019s Vegas Shows<\/h2>\n