If Mariah Carey made your top artists on Spotify Wrapped this year, congratulations, you have taste! It also means you probably saw the special message she shared for her top listeners.
Kevin Winter / Getty Images for The Recording Academy
The video showed Mariah in a holiday-themed get-up, expressing her appreciation for her biggest streamers. “Thank you so much for listening to my music on Spotify. Your support through the years is the greatest gift I could ask for,” she said before promising to deliver new music “soon.”
https://twitter.com/chartmariah/status/1864312930902093941
The only thing was, it didn’t exactly look like her.
Mariah Carey smiling on red carpet, wearing a strapless gown, wavy hairstyle, and statement jewelry
Mariah Carey in a Santa jumpsuit with long wavy hair in front of a holiday-themed background
Momodu Mansaray / WireImage, Spotify
Many people thought it was AI.
https://twitter.com/glitterposay/status/1864316388648624444
“I can’t tell is this is ai or she got a gun pointed at her…” one viewer said.
https://twitter.com/JAYYYMONROE/status/1864549608740774146
Something felt seriously off.
https://twitter.com/boyfrommooon/status/1864637608342524103
From the tone and inflection of Mariah’s voice:
To the “processed” look of it all:
“no fucking way you people actually think thats not ai,” one X user declared.
https://twitter.com/blockyinkling/status/1864569776854491410
But some people actually did think otherwise, pointing to Mariah’s “usual” behavior and how she appeared to be reading a teleprompter in the clip.
Taking to Reddit, one person wrote, “Am I the only one who feels like this wasn’t AI and just Mariah and her usual stiffness (which usually happens during interviews)?”
“Its not AI,” another https://twitter.com/pg13sensi/status/1864430478167593265. “She’s just reading something behind the camera which gives uncanny vibes (you can see it in the eye movements).”
Michael Loccisano / FilmMagic
Eventually, Mariah ended up speaking out herself to address the viral comments.
Wagner Meier / Getty Images
Taking to X, she wrote, “Bad lighting and a red lip have you all thinking this is AI??”
Tara Ziemba / FilmMagic
“There’s a reason I’m not a fan of either of those things!” she added before quickly moving on to discuss her current Christmas Time tour in the rest of the tweet.
Spotify / https://twitter.com/MariahCarey/status/1864840259961233585
As one person said, “Imagine looking so pretty and perfect ppl think you’re computer generated!!!!” What a slay.
https://twitter.com/ItsRezForMe/status/1864843472554877322
Who made your Spotify Wrapped this year? Tell me in the comments.
