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. But her core base rapidly fired again, defending her many years of music movies and popular culture affect.

“Anyone saying Mariah doesn’t have memorable music videos (re: VMA Vanguard Award win) is either just hating/bitter or is too young and doesn’t know pop culture from before their adolescence. Or both,” one consumer posted.

Another 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 kids on this app are trying to say Mariah Carey, THE MARIAH CAREY, doesn’t have an iconic music videos… please do not speak on years that you were not old enough to experience when that s### was happening.”

The children on this app are attempting to say Mariah Carey, THE MARIAH CAREY, doesn’t have an iconic music movies… please don’t communicate on years that you weren’t sufficiently old to expertise when that s### was occurring.

— samanthamcfarland (@SailorSammy93) August 21, 2025

The Video Vanguard Award acknowledges artists who’ve made lasting contributions to music movies and popular culture.

Mariah Carey’s Video Vanguard Full Circle Moment

Carey will obtain the distinction through the reside broadcast on Sunday (September 7) at UBS Arena in New York. This might be her first VMA win regardless of 9 earlier nominations.

Carey is anticipated to carry out a medley of her most celebrated hits through the present.

Her catalog consists of visuals for “Honey,” “We Belong Together,” “Touch My Body” and “Heartbreaker”—all of which helped outline music video aesthetics within the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Adding 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 distinction she helped bestow almost three many years in the past.

Carey can be nominated for Best R&B for her single “Type Dangerous,” from her upcoming album Here For It All, which is scheduled to drop on Thursday (September 26).

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