Muni Long Shuts Down Critics Over Mariah Carey Tribute: ‘She Asked Me to Do It’ [Video]

Muni Long is setting the record straight after her tribute to Mariah Carey at the iHeartRadio Music Awards had social media users talking.

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Following her performance of “We Belong Together,” a viral clip showed Mariah giving what appeared to be a side-eye reaction—sparking speculation that she wasn’t impressed. But according to Muni, Mariah personally requested the tribute.

“You thought I chose to get on TV and sing a Mariah Carey song? You thought that was my choice?” she said. “Nobody can sing Mariah songs like Mariah. Nobody. I didn’t choose that. She asked me to do it, and of course, I said yes, because why would I ever say no?”

Muni, who performed alongside Tori Kelly before Mariah was honored with the Icon Award, admitted that she did her best and that’s all she could do. However, she assured fans that Mariah was nothing but appreciative afterward.

“Even if she hated it—which she didn’t, because I have the footage of us talking afterward—I’m not gonna post it because her lighting wasn’t right,” she joked, referencing Mariah’s well-known preference for perfect lighting. “But she told me I did a great job. She appreciated it, and that’s it.”

As for the critics, Muni kept it classy: “Thank you to the ones who uplift me. Everybody else? Please.”