The renowned singer Mariah Carey made a lasting impression at the 2025 BET Awards by delivering an unforgettable stage performance and moving audience with her heartfelt acceptance speech while receiving the Ultimate Icon Award. While the majority of her fans celebrated Carey’s achievement and the emotional weight of the moment, a segment of viewers expressed criticism regarding her live performance.
Understanding the Controversy Surrounding Mariah Carey’s BET Awards Performance
At the prestigious 2025 BET Awards, Mariah Carey showcased her new lead single, “Type Dangerous,” marking it as her first live performance of the song. This highly anticipated track features a lineup of talented collaborators, including Anderson .Paak and Rakim, enhancing the song’s appeal and artistic depth.
During her performance, Carey delighted her audience by inviting guests D-Nice, Anderson .Paak, and Rakim to join her on stage while she donned a stunning metallic gold minidress. The performance was infused with a nostalgic ’90s aesthetic and was accompanied by a dynamic squad of dancers, creating an engaging visual spectacle.
While many fans celebrated Carey’s iconic vocal abilities that consistently shine through in her performances, some viewers voiced their disappointment regarding her live delivery. One user on X (formerly Twitter) remarked, “She’s classy and has a great voice. She can dance IF she wants to.” Another fan humorously commented, “She is so FUNNY!!! She doesn’t move an inch!!” highlighting the contrasting reactions to her stage presence.
Another viewer expressed, “I love Mariah more than anyone, but she is so robotic here. And it seemed like she had a hard time walking in her heels. Even when the rap part broke, she didn’t even move, and that’s the time to really get into it. I kinda like the song though,” pointing out concerns about her performance energy and movement.
Additionally, longstanding fans of Carey took to social media to celebrate her new accolade from BET, recognizing her as the “Ultimate Icon.” Upon accepting the prestigious award on stage, Carey expressed her gratitude, stating, “My life and career have been quite the adventure. I will spare you the long, drawn-out saga tonight.”
She elaborated, “It took me a while, but I realized life is far too short to live for anyone else’s approval,” encouraging fans to embrace their individuality and authenticity during her acceptance speech, reinforcing the importance of self-acceptance.
The 56-year-old pop icon remarked, “I decided to own who I am, my extraness, my fabulousness, and yes, my success and my iconicness.” She concluded her inspiring speech with a powerful message, urging everyone to “believe in yourself. Love and respect yourself. Be a diva, be a boss, (and) be anything you want to be,” resonating deeply with her audience.
