Muni Long Says She Didn’t Mean to Disrespect Mariah Carey with Impersonator Videos: “Don’t Be Delulu”

Muni Long has pushed back against suggestions that recent Instagram reels featuring a Mariah Carey impersonator were meant to disrespect the superstar. The clips — released to promote Long’s new single “Delulu” — show an actress channeling Carey’s signature voice and mannerisms while interrupting a rehearsal to offer cheeky commentary.

On her Instagram Story on November 24, 2025, the Florida-born singer clarified that the videos were made in jest and not intended as an attack. In her message, Long emphasized she would never speak ill of Carey, writing, “I would never disrespect Queen Mariah!!!!!!”

The posts quickly drew reactions from fans. Some commenters interpreted the skits as a deliberate slight, with a few urging Long to be more respectful. Others scolded critics for overreacting during what many described as “Mariah’s season.”

Long also used the clips to underscore her admiration for Carey — declaring herself “Forever a Lamb” on her Story — and to poke lighthearted fun at the idea of other people performing her work. In one reel, the faux-Carey briefly sings a line of “Delulu” before Long reacts, joking about not liking others singing her songs; in a follow-up clip the impersonator playfully pushes Long off a ledge, to which the singer responded with gratitude and laughter in the caption.

Fans’ sensitivity to the material is partly rooted in a recent exchange between the two artists. After Long covered “We Belong Together” at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards as part of a tribute, Carey told GQ in September that she hadn’t heard the performance. Carey said she was flattered by the homage but noted she generally doesn’t like people covering her songs: “I love Muni Long, she’s a great person… but I just don’t like people doing my songs.”

That comment helped fuel speculation that Long’s new content might be provocative — speculation Long sought to quash by affirming her respect and fandom for the icon.

Billboard has reached out to representatives for Mariah Carey for comment.

Watch Long’s clips below.

View this post on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

Source