During Mariah Carey's 2009 interview with outlet Taff, the topic of fellow singer Jennifer Lopez came up, to which Carey said, "I don't know her" while smiling sweetly. Naturally, fans found the idea that Carey does not know Lopez (and Carey's delivery of her claim) humorous, and a meme was born — but what's the real story behind this viral moment?
Carey has reiterated to a radio interviewer and outlet TMZ that she "doesn't know" Lopez. When asked what she meant by her comments, Carey said, "I really was trying to say something nice or say nothing at all," and yet "I don't know her" became an extremely popular saying used to throw shade at someone, with other celebrities partaking, too.
Carey and Lopez's feud apparently began with the release of Carey's 2001 movie "Glitter" and accompanying single "Loverboy"; Carey alleges that her ex-husband and former Sony Music CEO Tommy Mottola sabotaged his ex-wife's release by putting J-Lo’s "I’m Real" above it. Carey's attitude towards the meme has fluctuated over the years.
Carey has expressed annoyance at people who make a deal about her comment from years ago, but finds the lighthearted meme itself humorous. Meanwhile, when Lopez was asked about the situation, she said, "[Mariah is] forgetful I guess! We've met many times [...] I think she's incredibly talented and I've always been a fan of hers."