Mariah Carey revives her '90s curls to remind people of 'innocent' side after backlash over diva behavior

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA: Mariah Carey is reportedly making a bold move to shed her diva image and reconnect with her "sweet" roots following the backlash over her viral side-eye at a recent awards show.

The 55-year-old pop icon was spotted on Sunday, March 23, at West Hollywood’s The Birds Street Cafe with her rumored boyfriend, Anderson .Paak, 39, rocking her iconic '90s curls in a clear departure from her usual glam look. 

This makeover is part of a shift away from her diva persona toward a more innocent, relatable image, according to the Daily Mail,

To put this in context, Carey faced backlash after a viral clip showed her looking unimpressed and throwing a side-eye as Muni Long and Tori Kelly performed her hits at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards. 

Mariah Carey pulls out her old hairdo to remind people of her 'innocent and sweet' side

According to the photos shared online, Mariah Carey stepped out with her rumored boyfriend, Anderson .Paak. This outing marked a significant departure from her usual glamorous look, as she sported voluminous '90s curls, moving away from her typically sleek waves and radiant makeup.

For the occasion, Carey wore a black sequined jacket and dress as she was seen leaving the Birds Street Club.

A source close to her shared that she didn't expect the online backlash she received over her expressions at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards. 

"Mariah did not expect the online hatred that she got from her reactions when she was being honored last week. She didn’t mean for people to think she is ungrateful to be honored," the source explained.

"She just is not an actress – she is a singer. Mariah is following the advice of those around her and pulling out the old hairdo to remind people of the cute, innocent, and sweet Mariah that was known only for her tremendous vocals," they added. 

The insider continued, "She also recognizes the shade in this as well, as she is reminding everyone of just how powerful her voice is in comparison to everyone out there. This is why she reacted the way that she did."

Mariah Carey will never say sorry for her 'honest reaction'

Despite the criticism, Mariah Carey remains unapologetic about her reaction to Muni Long and Tori Kelly's performances.

The source added, "They were good but they were not Mariah. Mariah will never say I am sorry for her actions. She is forever unapologetic but in every sweet thing she does there is also a hint of shade. She chose to let her hair do the talking for this."

The source also spoke about Carey's candid reactions to artists covering her songs.

"Mariah’s expressions speak for themselves. One thing about Mariah is that she will always give an honest answer or honest reaction. It is rather odd that iHeart would have musicians who cannot hold a candle to Mariah’s vocal range do a tribute to Mariah," they said. 

"This is like having a contestant auditioning for 'American Idol' to do a Carrie Underwood song in front of Carrie Underwood. What could they expect? While Mariah is honored at being honored, she knows her talent," the mole continued. 

They concluded, "She knows her vocal range and she knows the huge impact she has had on the music industry. Mariah also knows when an artist sings one of her songs but doesn’t sound like Mariah."