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Mariah Carey Stands by "I Don't Know Her" Claim 22 Years Later
2 Oct
Summary
- Mariah Carey's "I don't know her" comment about Jennifer Lopez went viral in 2003
- Carey maintains she was being honest and doesn't feel the need to pretend to be friends
- Lopez has said she and Carey have met "many times" over the years

More than two decades after Mariah Carey's viral "I don't know her" comment about Jennifer Lopez, the saga continues. In a recent interview, Carey maintained that she was being honest when she made the remark back in 2003, and she sees no reason to pretend to be best friends with fellow celebrities just because they're in the same industry.
The topic resurfaced when Carey appeared on a talk show in October 2025, where host Andy Cohen questioned her about the infamous moment. Carey framed it as a victory for honesty, saying "Honesty isn't really something that becomes big -- most of the time." She explained that she doesn't mean any offense, but she simply doesn't feel the need to feign familiarity with someone she doesn't actually know well.
This is not the first time Carey has addressed the viral "I don't know her" clip. Over the years, fans have compiled numerous compilations of the singer making similar comments. Even Lopez herself has weighed in, telling a talk show host in 2016 that she and Carey have met "many times" and joked that the singer must be "forgetful." However, Carey has maintained that meeting someone is not the same as truly knowing them.
As of October 2025, the two singers' relationship status remains unclear, but Carey shows no signs of backing down from her original stance. She insists she can't suddenly "know" Lopez just because their paths have crossed, emphasizing that she values honesty over pretense in her relationships with fellow celebrities.