Don’t we see celebrities displaying their most relatable selves when they often collide in moments of raw humanity? Earlier this year, in February, Mariah Carey, the diva with a magical voice, unwittingly found herself at the center of a swirling conversation following a pre-Grammys gala that saw her both honored & scrutinized.
At the plush Fairmont Century Plaza in LA, Carey, 55, received the Global Impact Award from The Black Music Collective, which was bestowed upon her by none other than the legendary Stevie Wonder. Also, note that the latter has been blind since being diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity shortly after birth.
Nonetheless, fans conjectured as to whether she purposefully took Wonder’s hand off her shoulder in order to give her acceptance speech upfront. Ignoring that he was already reaching out with a microphone for her, she moved to another standing mic.
Mariah Carey’s Accidental Diss of Stevie Wonder?
During The Recording Academy Honors presented by The Black Music Collective, Stevie Wonder took the stage to honor Mariah Carey with the Global Impact Award (via News.com.au). The former, 74, said to the Vision of Love hitmaker as they embraced:
Every time we meet and talk, it is like having a brand new day. I thank you for your friendship, your heart and the consistent spirit of love that you show. I’m here because I do love you, forever, and I just want to say this to you.
Carey, 55, then respectfully retorted:
I will never not get excited to be in the company of your greatness!
As he navigated the stage with the help of Carey’s shoulder, things took a sudden turn when the latter unknowingly brushed off Wonder’s hand in order to deliver her acceptance speech at the front of the stage. Carey went to a standing mic in front of him, missing the opportunity to see him extend a microphone for her, according to THR.
Carey might just didn’t know how to react, as the renowned singer surmised:
I can’t even remark about what just happened. Does anybody realize that this is Stevie Wonder? It’s not that I’ve never seen him before, it’s not that I’ve never been to his concerts before … oh my gosh. Thank you, Stevie Wonder!
This, however, caused Wonder to struggle to find his way around the stage, leaving fans feeling sympathetic towards the That’s What Friends Are For singer.
Fans Express Concern for Stevie Wonder Following Mariah Carey Incident
Of course, fans were left feeling uncomfortable and saddened after an unfortunate mishap in which Mariah Carey appeared to unintentionally diss Stevie Wonder. Carey, for her part, did not respond to that impromptu moment, but she did thank him and other artists like Tori Kelly and Busta Rhymes in an X post following the event:
Even though the Without You hitmaker made some kind remarks, her actions did not sit well with her fans on social media. Let us look at some fan comments:
Despite the uncomfortable moment, it’s clear that there is mutual love and respect between Carey and Wonder. The latter has been a longtime fan of Carey’s talent and spirit, even going as far as to write a tribute to her in 2008 (via TIME):
I could never describe or measure the level of respect and love I have for Mariah Carey in just 300 words, but you know, I’ll do my best. I’ve met only three people who had a truly wonderful voice and spirit to match: my first wife Syreeta, Minnie Riperto, and Mariah.
The fact that Carey and Wonder have a special bond is evident from this, and their love and respect for one another should not be diminished by any incident.
As a result, fans can only hope that this awkward moment will serve as a learning experience for both artists and that it will only strengthen their bond in the long run. So, let’s expect that this mishap will only lead to greater understanding and empathy between these two music legends.
