Mariah Carey accepted the MTV Video Vanguard Award and performed a medley of her hits at the 2025 Video Music Awards, but portions of the response on social media focused on the perceived low energy of her stage appearance.
Carey, 56, took the stage after being presented the honor by Ariana Grande. She began wrapped in a champagne-colored silk robe and a feather-adorned outer layer before revealing a corseted gold, crystal-covered bodysuit with matching sparkling boots and layered diamond jewelry. During her acceptance she quipped, "I just have one question, what in the Sam Hill were you waiting for?" and noted that the Vanguard was her first Moon Person after multiple prior nominations.
The set included a medley of songs spanning Carey’s career, with selections reported to include "Sugar Sweet," "Fantasy," "Honey," "Obsessed" and "It’s Like That." The appearance marked Carey’s first VMAs performance in roughly 20 years. Earlier in the broadcast, she also won the VMA for best R&B video for "Type Dangerous," bringing her total VMA nominations to nine and earning her the show’s marquee accolade for the first time.
Carey follows a line of past Vanguard recipients that includes Katy Perry, Shakira, Beyoncé, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna. Coincidentally, Carey presented the Video Vanguard Award to LL Cool J in 1997; LL Cool J served as the 2025 VMAs host.
Reaction on social platforms was mixed. While many celebrated the honor and Carey’s career, a substantial number of posts on X criticized the performance as subdued. Users described the set as "stiff" and accused Carey of lip syncing or doing "the bare minimum," with others commenting on slow movement around the stage. The criticisms echoed earlier fan concerns reported this year after videos from Carey’s Las Vegas shows prompted questions about her mobility during performances.
Ariana Grande introduced the Vanguard presentation and handed Carey the Moon Person. Carey, who has long questioned the idea of traditional birthdays and referred to aging jokingly as an "anniversary," is the oldest artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award.
Industry and fan reactions to legacy acts at awards shows have varied in recent years, with some viewers raising expectations for high-energy productions and others emphasizing career recognition over a single live set. Carey’s VMAs appearance was framed both as a career milestone and, for some observers online, a performance that did not match contemporary expectations for movement and vocal display.
Carey’s repertoire and influence across pop and R&B have been widely cited in discussions of her legacy, and the Vanguard Award adds a formal career recognition that several previous long-serving acts received earlier in their careers. The conversation unfolding after the 2025 VMAs reflects both celebration of Carey’s decades-long commercial and cultural footprint and scrutiny from parts of the public about the form and vigor of awards-show performances.
