Mariah Carey is finally setting the record straight on her infamous 2003 comment about Jennifer Lopez: “I don’t know her.”
The remark quickly became a pop culture moment, immortalized as one of the most iconic shady celebrity lines of the early 2000s. Now, more than 20 years later, the legendary singer is reflecting on what really happened during that interview—and why it has stuck around for decades.
“I mean, the thing is I was being honest when I said it,” Mariah told Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen during her October 1 appearance. “So, I don’t know how it became so big. Honesty isn’t really something that becomes big, most of the time.”
When asked if she’s officially gotten to know J. Lo in the years since, Mariah laughed: “How can I suddenly know—like, you know?” Cohen joked about how long the meme has lasted: “The amount of time we’ve spent in these chairs discussing whether you know her is amazing.”
This isn’t the first time the 56-year-old superstar has addressed the “I don’t know her” moment. Back in 2016, she explained the distinction between knowing someone and simply meeting them. “Apparently, I’m forgetful,” she said. “Like what am I supposed to say? I’m not going to put on a thing, ‘Oh we’re all Hollywood and let’s just all pretend we’re best friends ‘cause we’re in that land.’ It’s no offense to anybody.”
Mariah emphasized, “It wasn’t like I don’t know who she is—of course I do. That’s not the question.” She also expressed her frustration with the moment’s longevity: “That was so long ago. I can’t believe people still make such a big deal out of it.”
The comment has continued to spark feud rumors over the years, even though both stars have acknowledged their interactions. Jennifer Lopez herself joked in a 2016 Wendy Williams interview, “She’s forgetful, I guess. We’ve met many times. I don’t know… I don’t know her that well.”
