Mariah Carey sparked concern with her ‘slurred’ speech as she accepted the Icon trophy at Monday’s iHeart Radio Music Awards.

The pop legend, 55, was visibly emotional as she took to the stage at the LA ceremony – but fans were left fearing for her health after she appeared to stumble over her words, slur and take notable drawn out pauses.

Carey kicked off her speech by humorously asking the audience, ‘Is the lighting okay, because I don’t like bad lighting.’

She then showcased her ensemble and expressed how it had always been a ‘dream’ to hear herself on the radio. 

‘Even now I still get excited when I hear one of my songs playing on the radio. It never stops being magical.’

Mariah gave a special shout out to her fans and then also paid a loving tribute to her late mother Patricia Carey who pᴀssed away last year in August. 

Mariah Carey sparked concern with her ‘lethargic’ speech as she accepted the Icon trophy at Monday’s iHeart Radio Music Awards

‘On this Saint Patrick’s Day, I want to honor my mother Patricia Carey for giving me the gift of music,’ the star concluded. 

Social media erupted over the star’s ‘lethargic’ appearance with one fan writing: ‘Mariah Carey high or drunk during this awards show. LMFAOOOOOO,’ and another questioned, ‘Okay who’s got the tea on what’s up with Mariah Carey cuz….?’

Another follower wrote: ‘Her words were slurred and she seemed sedated.’

Others wrote: ‘Tbh Mariah hasn’t been the same since around the time she broke up with Bryan Tanaka. Ever since, shes been completely lip syncing, very lethargic looking and just all around not the same Mariah overall.

‘It seems like her health has drastically changed for the worse unfortunately. Hope she gets the help she needs to get better.

‘Something has been wrong for quite a few years now… I hate it.’

‘I’ve been really concerned about her since last year tbh. She always just seems low energy and out of it. It may sound weird to say but I hope that it’s just her still recovering from the loss of her mother & sister and not something more.’ 

Some fans dismissed any concern, saying: ‘Exactly she has spoke the same was for 20 something years’ and ‘fr! she always that every speech and we lambily love that.’

‘he’s a legend! Bless her you can see she’s missing her mum very much.” Another wrote: “Not the conspiracies. She lost her mother and sister on the same day a couple of months ago + a break up after 7 years of relationship and bipolar disorder, give the woman a break.’

The star accepted her award from LL Cool J 

The pop legend, 55, was visibly emotional as she took to the stage at the LA ceremony – but fans were left fearing for her health after she appeared to stumble over her words, slur and take drawn out pauses

Another follower wrote: ‘Her words were slurred and she seemed sedated’

This comes after Carey had a savage reaction to a music tribute ahead of her accepting the Icon Award.

The Obsessed singer – who recently sparked concern during a performance on stage – had the chance to watch both Muni Long and Tori Kelly belt out a few of her hit tracks from over the years during the ceremony in L.A. 

Read More Mariah Carey’s, 55, romance with boytoy Anderson .Paak, 39, heats up as they hit iHeartRadio Awards

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

Sitting next to the songstress was rumored boyfriend Anderson .Paak who could be seen enthusiastically grooving to the tune. 

Another moment that was also caught on camera showed Mariah with a big grin on her face – which slowly faded as the performance continued. 

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

Carey’s savage reaction to a music tribute ahead of her accepting the Icon Award also went viral

The Obsessed singer had the chance to watch both Muni Long and Tori Kelly belt out a few of her hit tracks from over the years during the ceremony in L.A.

Muni Long stepped out onto the stage amid the tribute to sing We Belong Together

The viral moment occurred shortly before Carey was presented the Icon Award during the ceremony at the Dolby Theater 

Now mfs mad at Mariah.. Man Mariah Carey a real vocalist bruh 🤣 Of course she don’t want yall performing her song. https://t.co/8TzzZ64M0S

— RJ (@PlayerPlayer24) March 18, 2025

‘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.’ 

‘The way Mariah Carey can’t help but show her disinterest on her face but I get it I’m the same my face tells everything. She cracks me up. Personally I thought Tori killed it though!’ another penned. 

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

An X user wrote, ‘She in her head wondering why they didn’t get ariana to do the tribute,’ and another shared, ‘Now why would they make anybody sing a Mariah Carey song in front of Mariah Carey.’ 

‘Mariah Carey hell omg she can’t hid her facial reaction for nothing omg,’ one added, and another penned, ‘Mariah feel insulted… she looked around yall like this.’

After the music tribute from Long and Kelly, host LL Cool J presented the award to the songstress who took to the stage wearing a fitted, black gown with dramatic material around her shoulders. 

Muni Long stepped out onto the stage amid the tribute to sing We Belong Together and Tori Kelly later performed Carey’s song Always Be My Baby

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

Another moment that was also caught on camera showed Mariah with a big grin on her face – but slowly faded as the performance continued

Fans quickly shared their own thoughts on X, with one penning, ‘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’

‘The way Mariah Carey can’t help but show her disinterest on her face but I get it I’m the same my face tells everything. She cracks me up. Personally I thought Tori killed it though!’ another penned

Carey later posed with her award on the carpet and better showed off her glammed up look for the big night. Her long locks were parted to the side, and flowed down past her shoulders in elegant curls. 

She accessorized the gown with silver earrings as well as an eye-catching necklace with a large diamond pendant on the front. 

The Fantasy hitmaker joined other star-studded guests who also walked the red carpet at the event, such as Kelsea Ballerini.