Mariah Carey’s Video Vanguard Award sparked on-line debate, however her loyal base rapidly shut down critics questioning her music video legacy.
Mariah Carey is about to obtain the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards’ Video Vanguard honor—and longtime supporters aren’t staying quiet as youthful critics query her legacy.
The announcement, made Thursday (August 21), stirred up debate throughout social media, with some Gen Z customers downplaying Carey’s visible affect. However her core base rapidly fired again, defending her a long time of music movies and popular culture affect.
“Anybody saying Mariah doesn’t have memorable music movies (re: VMA Vanguard Award win) is both simply hating/bitter or is simply too younger and doesn’t know popular culture from earlier than their adolescence. Or each,” one person posted.
Anybody saying Mariah would not have memorable music movies (re: VMA Vanguard Award win) is both simply hating/bitter or is simply too younger and would not know popular culture from earlier than their adolescence. Or each. pic.twitter.com/LrZjwYaoZB
— Mark (@106th) August 21, 2025
One other added, “Honey alone made Mariah Vanguard worthy.”
Honey alone made Mariah Vanguard worthy pic.twitter.com/P0T9ymN25Q
— jake (@jakesinterlude) August 21, 2025
A 3rd chimed in, “The youngsters on this app are attempting to say Mariah Carey, THE MARIAH CAREY, doesn’t have an iconic music movies… please don’t converse on years that you weren’t sufficiently old to expertise when that s### was taking place.”
The youngsters on this app are attempting to say Mariah Carey, THE MARIAH CAREY, doesn’t have an iconic music movies… please don’t converse on years that you weren’t sufficiently old to expertise when that s### was taking place.
— samanthamcfarland (@SailorSammy93) August 21, 2025
The Video Vanguard Award acknowledges artists who’ve made lasting contributions to music movies and popular culture.
Feeling alllll the feelings as a result of… @MARIAHCAREY IS OUR VIDEO VANGUARD!
Be a part of us as we honor and rejoice MC on the 2025 #VMAs 🦋✨ LIVE September 7 at 8p on CBS @paramountplus! pic.twitter.com/1pLNuaFPYO
— Video Music Awards (@vmas) August 21, 2025
Mariah Carey’s Video Vanguard Full Circle Second
Carey will obtain the consideration in the course of the stay broadcast on Sunday (September 7) at UBS Enviornment in New York. This will probably be her first VMA win regardless of 9 earlier nominations.
Carey is predicted to carry out a medley of her most celebrated hits in the course of the present.
Her catalog contains visuals for “Honey,” “We Belong Collectively,” “Contact My Physique” and “Heartbreaker”—all of which helped outline music video aesthetics within the late ’90s and early 2000s.
Including to the full-circle second, Carey as soon as offered the identical award to LL COOL J in 1997.
LL, who’s internet hosting the 2025 VMAs, will now witness Carey obtain the consideration she helped bestow almost three a long time in the past.
Carey can also be nominated for Finest R&B for her single “Kind Harmful,” from her upcoming album Right here For It All, which is scheduled to drop on Thursday (September 26).
