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Mariah Carey is no stranger to making headlines, and her recent appearance at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards was no different. While accepting the award, the legendary singer gave a speech that was both funny and emotional. During her speech, she was seen throwing shade towards her ex-husband Tommy Mottola.
It wasn’t just her acceptance of the award that drew all the attention, but a specific remark she made while thanking John Sykes. The singer said:
"I want to thank John Sykes, president of iHeartRadio and my first manager by the way. Some people think it was this other guy, but it wasn’t him. It was John."
Many others saw the remark as a jab at her ex-husband, Tommy Mottola, the former CEO of Sony Music. By signing Mariah Carey to Columbia Records and helping her achieve popularity, Mottola had a significant impact on her early career.
Their personal and professional relationship was filled with controversies and speculations. Carey married Mottola in 1993, when she was 23 years of age.
Looking back at their marriage, she has explained in numerous interviews and her recent memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, that their marriage was one of control and lack of personal freedom. Carey has been open about her experiences with Mottola, once stating to the Cosmopolitan that “it felt like being a prisoner.” During the interview, she said:
"You might want to picture a child bride. There was a conscious effort to keep me as this all-American — whatever that means — girl. There was no freedom for me as a human being."
More about Mariah Carey’s speech and Tommy Mottola's response to her past claims
Over the years, Mottola has reflected on the flaws of their relationship, writing in his 2013 memoir that their marriage was “absolutely wrong and inappropriate.” But he has also insisted that he was instrumental in molding Carey’s career.
"I am deeply gratified to have played that role in Mariah's well-deserved and remarkable success, and continue to wish her and her family only the very best."
Coming back to her acceptance speech at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, Mariah Carey first checked if everything met her standards, asking, “Is the lighting OK? Because I don’t like bad lighting.” She also took a nostalgic look at the evolution of music, explaining the concept of “airwaves” to younger generations.
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Mariah Carey offered a tribute to her late mother, Patricia Carey, an opera singer who had an early influence on her musical journey. She also paid tribute to her devoted fanbase, known as the Lambs, along with everyone who has supported her over the years, from industry professionals to radio station interns.
As Carey spoke, her children, Moroccan and Monroe, watched the proceedings from the audience, along with her alleged boyfriend, Anderson. Paak.
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