Mariah Carey Speaks on Viral Diva Reaction to Muni Long’s ‘Pitchy’ Cover

Mariah Carey has finally broken her silence on that viral reaction to Muni Long’s cover of the singer’s hit 2005 track We Belong Together.

Back in March, Long took to the stage during the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards for a tribute performance ahead of Carey accepting the Icon Award at the ceremony.

However, at one point as Long sang We Belong Together – the camera had briefly cut to Carey as she slowly turned her head away from the stage and gave a side-eye glance to her right.

Mariah’s seemingly ‘shady’ move set social media ablaze at the time, with fans going on to accuse Long of being ‘pitchy’ and ‘off key.’

But the 56-year-old Grammy winner has now addressed the viral moment during an interview with GQ.

‘I didn’t even hear the cover. I didn’t know it happened. No one told me,’ Carey explained to the outlet. 

The star added that she ‘loves’ Long and further expressed, ‘I just didn’t know that she had done We Belong Together [as a cover] ’cause her song was so similar to We Belong Together. I had no idea that she did We Belong Together.’ 

The interviewer then shared, ‘She did change it up where it sounded different. She made it her own.’ 

Carey replied that she was ‘very honored and flattered that she did it. I love Muni Long, she’s a great person, umm, but I just don’t like people doing my songs.’ 

The Fantasy hitmaker also discussed how legendary singer Prince was also not a fan of people covering his songs. 

‘But about [my cover of] The Beautiful Ones, he said he didn’t like when people did covers of his songs. And I was like, “Oh no, he doesn’t like it.” But then he told me that he liked Honey.’ 

Both Long and Tori Kelly had belted out hit tracks from Carey in a tribute performance for the star at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards back in March. 

Along with a side-eye glance to her right, another moment that was caught on camera showed Carey with a big grin on her face – which slowly faded as the performance continued. 

Sitting next to the songstress was rumored boyfriend Anderson .Paak who could be seen enthusiastically grooving to the We Belong Together cover. 

Fans quickly shared their own thoughts on X, with one penning at the time: ‘Mariah Carey is not feeling these performances and is not hiding that fact. lol #iHeartAwards 2025 #MariahCarey.’ 

‘I have so many questions…,’ another wrote, and one added, ‘This going to be a new Meme! i’m telling you.’

A social media user typed, ‘Mariah watching ppl butchering her songs lol,’ and a fan commented, ‘Mariah Carey reaction to Muni Long singing her song just SENT ME OMFG.’ 

One added, ‘Now mfs mad at Mariah.. Man Mariah Carey a real vocalist bruh. Of course she don’t want yall performing her song.’ 

Just days after Long had taken part in the tribute performance, the Made For Me singer addressed Carey’s viral reaction in a clip shared by The Shade Room. 

‘The people that’s got a lot to say, you don’t understand how this paying homage and having respect for people,’ she stated. 

Long also shared that Carey had ‘asked’ her to cover the hit track. 

‘You thought I chose to get on TV and sing a Mariah Carey song? You thought that was my choice? Why would I do that? Nobody can sing Mariah’s songs like Mariah. Nobody. I did my best, and that’s all I can do.’ 

Long added that Carey praised her performance and ‘told me I did a great job, she appreciated it. And that’s it. 

‘Once again, if she pushed me down the stairs, if she told me she hated it, I would say thank you. That’s what I would say.’ 

The Obsessed songstress also flashed a cheerful when she posed backstage with both Long and Kelly after receiving the Icon Award. 

Carey is preparing to release her 16th studio album Here For It All later this week on Friday, September 26. 

She had the chance to open up about the new music as well as her successful career and life at Apple Music’s Flowers event at the Lincoln Center on Wednesday. 

While talking to fellow singer SZA at the event, Carey revealed a piece of advice that her late mother Patricia had given her, per People. 

Last year in August, the singer revealed that her mother passed away at the age of 87. On the same day, Carey’s sister Alison also died at the age of 63. 

‘I think one of the main things that she said, the one thing she said to me, and it was clear, and it was right there,’ the performer began.

‘She said, “Don’t say if I make it. Say when I make it.” So… I’m going to get emotional,’ the star continued. 

SZA then told Carey, ‘Literally, we love you. A mother is everyone’s most precious gift, just as you weren’t the most precious gift to your children, just as you’ve been a mother to [your fans].’

The songstress recalled how her mother Patricia had been an opera singer and explained how she ‘made her debut at Lincoln Center.’ 

Carey added, ‘And she was also a diva because she was an opera singer, and that’s the definition of the word if you’re gonna look it up. 

‘She would say, like, “So and so is very much the diva,” and I had to learn what that meant on my own, but I think I’m probably very much a diva.’