Top 10 Shadiest Mariah Carey Moments

Top 10 Shadiest Mariah Carey Moments

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the sassiest digs the Songbird Supreme took at fellow celebs.

#10: Her Viral 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards Reaction

Mimi’s face comes with subtitles. At the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, she was presented with the Icon Award. Living up to that status, she gave us an iconic moment that took over the internet. When singer Muni Long was paying her musical tribute to Mariah by performing her hit song “We Belong Together”, the camera panned to the legend, catching a meme-worthy reaction. Anderson .Paak was jamming out to the song beside her, and she could be seen slowly turning her face toward him with a deadpan expression. This was even more hilarious because at the time, the two artists were caught up in dating rumors. While no one’s really sure what prompted the reaction, the GIF went viral nonetheless.

#9: Her Beef with Christina Aguilera

Mariah and the “Genie in a Bottle” singer were famously feuding in 2006, and it resulted in several shady comments from both sides. In one instance, while gushing about a ‘really cool’ individual in an interview, the interviewer tried to get specifics and landed an even juicier moment. As if the quick denial wasn’t enough, the look on her face also betrayed her apparent dislike for the younger star, especially coupled with her casual hair flip. In other interviews, she would redirect questions about Aguielera with more finesse, but still just a hint of shade.

#8: That Time She Shaded Her Ex

No one is safe from the ultimate diva’s sass, let alone her former lovers. While promoting her reality TV show “Mariah’s World”, the “Fantasy” songstress was asked whether her ex-fiancé James Packer would be making an appearance on it. Without missing a beat, she responded with top-grade sarcasm, seemingly shocked by his apparent popularity. Indeed, Packer, being a businessman, isn’t exactly a public figure. So Mariah wondering if he had fans was technically fair. However, the dry delivery of her rhetorical question with a complete lack of actual surprise or curiosity was what made it a jaw-dropping diss. She couldn’t care less, and she wasn’t afraid to show it.

#7: When She Outdid Katy Perry’s Shade

The Queen of Camp is one of many pop stars to name Mariah as one of her artistic influences. If that’s the case, she probably could have shown it better. Calling Mimi old news had its consequences. According to iheart.com, Mariah apparently hit back with a savage takedown of her own. “I don’t really know her,” she reportedly stated, instantly making it clear that she didn’t think they were on the same level. Then, she supposedly added with even more condescension, “If controversy is what she needs to sell her album, then I’m glad I could help.” That burn had layers to it, and we bet it stung. However, the talented ladies seem to be supportive of each other now.

#6: Her Cutthroat Mantra for Prioritizing Herself

Carey’s stint as a judge on season twelve of “American Idol” was undoubtedly memorable for fans. However, she cheekily compared being on the show to working in hell after seemingly locking horns with fellow panelist Nicki Minaj. During an interview with Entertainment Tonight around that time, the Grammy-winner revealed that she focused on keeping it real on the show. In order to do that, she shut out external influences, denying the existence of anything that kept her from being herself. With this comment, Mariah was both unbothered and cleverly shady without naming names. Her quote entered the pop culture lexicon and never left.

#5: The J.Lo Jab

Few celebrity feuds are as famous as the one between the Queen of Christmas and the Queen of Dance. Since the nineties, the two have come for each other and addressed rumors of their contentious relationship on several occasions. There was one time when Lopez spoke about having an eight-hour sleep schedule, to which Mariah had a pointed reply. “If I had the luxury of not actually having to sing my own songs, I'd do that too,” she told journalist Vanessa Grigoriadis. Previously, Carey had refused to put J.Lo in the same artistic category as herself, citing her work on the film “Selena”, where she lip-synced the songs. So, she basically doubled down on that opinion with this dig, leaving us shook.

#4: The “Obsessed” Music Video

Mariah’s involvement with Eminem seems to have been a messy situationship at best. The “Rap God” MC said they were dating, but she insisted that it was strictly business. They name-dropped each other in songs and had wildly different things to say about their time together in interviews. However, the highlight of their beef was probably when she released her chart-topping hit “Obsessed”, which many thought was about Eminem. Adding fuel to the fire was the music video, where Carey appeared as a stalker who looked a little too much like the “Stan” rapper. She made it so obvious that everyone clocked the shade thrown at the King of Hip-Hop, but she blatantly refused to accept that it was a direct diss. Classic Mariah.

#3: When She Didn’t Know Nicki Minaj Sang

Influential journalist Barbara Walters was known for her candid interviews with celebrities. She never hesitated to ask the hard questions or the scandalous ones. So, when she sat down with Mariah while rumors of her feud with Nicki Minaj on the set of “American Idol” were swirling, she got straight to the point. Quoting some of Minaj’s barbed lyrics, Walters asked if the “Super Bass” artist was singing about Carey. As usual, the chanteuse gave a masterclass in bone dry brutality. Something about Mariah’s indifference just hits different.

#2: When She Came for Madonna

In her defense, the Queen of Pop came for her first. Speaking to Spin magazine, Madonna attributed Mariah’s popularity in the U.S. to, quote, ‘homogeneity.’ She even went so far as to make connections between Mariah Carey fans and the acquittal of O.J. Simpson. In another interview, this time with NME, she implied that Mariah lacked a unique point of view and wasn’t, quote, ‘terribly bright’. So, how did the “Dreamlover” singer react? She took a shot at Madonna’s popularity, suggesting that the Material Girl might have been relevant when Mariah was a schoolgirl, but not anymore. Although their feud didn’t stop there, this clapback was unforgettable.

#1: “I Don’t Know Her”

This was Mariah’s legendary response to being asked about Jennifer Lopez. The two pop stars were rumored to be at odds with each other since the aughts. Mariah’s ex-husband, former Sony Music Entertainment exec Tommy Mottola, allegedly helped J.Lo make a song with a sample Mariah had picked for “Loverboy”. That’s supposedly where the beef started. Then, Mariah claimed not to even know the “All I Have” singer in an interview. The phrase took on a life of its own, and both Mariah and Jennifer later said that they were never well-acquainted with each other. However, the “Maid in Manhattan” actress wasn’t the only one on the receiving end of this world-famous shade. Apparently, the “Glitter” star doesn’t know Demi Lovato either!

Do you think Mariah Carey is the ultimate queen of throwing shade? Share your thoughts in the comments and don’t hesitate to get shady!