"The biggest marketing gimmick": Internet reacts as Mariah Carey launches her annual holiday season with 'It's Time' video

Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas One And All! - New York - Source: Getty
Mariah Carey launches her annual holiday season with 'It's Time' video (Image via Getty)

On November 1, 2025, Mariah Carey declared the holiday season officially open. Her annual "It's Time" video dropped across social media to announce the unofficial start of Christmas 2025. The video featured comedian Billy Eichner as an elf, a new partnership with Sephora, and the sound of "All I Want for Christmas Is You," among other details.

The video has been directed by Joseph Kahn. It opens with Mariah Carey dressed in an angel costume. She is surrounded by the aftermath of Halloween, such as empty candy wrappers, scattered makeup, and a vanity. She says:

"Halloween slayed, but now… it's time!"

Netizens were quick to react to the video, saying:

"The biggest marketing gimmick was making people associate Christmas with Mariah not Jesus Christ"

Internet reactions to Mariah Carey launching her annual holiday season with 'It's Time' video

Pop Base posted the video via its official X (formerly Twitter), captioning:

"Mariah Carey officially kicks off the Holiday season."

Fans did not wait long before weighing in on the comment section of the X post as they shared their thoughts on the video. Below are some of their remarks:

"she really makes the most joyful time of the year so goddamn depressing.", declared an X user.
"Me this morning… MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! 🎄 from now until the end of the year so I’m in bit, don’t kill my vibe mood lol", commented another.
"She knows its time for her annual paycheck and she is letting y'all know that!!", noted a third.

Others also chimed in:

"😭😭😭😭 Infinite money Glitch. Can't she just Donate two days of her Christmas earnings to me", wrote a netizen.
"Mariah Carey’s ‘It’s Time’ video is just another corporate cash grab, using AI and striking labor as a punchline while pushing Sephora products. The ‘Queen of Christmas’ title is a trademark battle she’s fighting against other artists, and this feels more like a marketing stunt than a celebration of the holidays.", opined another.
"How has she become so irrelevant that the only time we speak about her is when it’s Christmas time 🥀", commented a third.

Notably, Carey is teaming up again with Bucket Listers for the return of Mariah Carey's Holiday Bar. These will be pop-up experiences in four U.S. cities. Pop-up bar dates and locations are as follows:

  • Thursday, November 13, 2025, Los Angeles, CA, at Mondrian Sky Bar
  • Friday, November 14, 2025, New York, NY, at UNTITLED at 3 Freeman Alley
  • Thursday, November 20, 2025, Miami, FL, at Ray’s at Broken Shaker
  • Friday, November 28, 2025, Las Vegas, NV, at On The Record

Mariah Carey is also set to head to Las Vegas for her holiday concert residency, Christmastime in Las Vegas, at Dolby Live. The upcoming show dates are as follows:

U.S. concert dates

  • Friday, November 28, 2025, Las Vegas, NV, at Dolby Live
  • Saturday, November 29, 2025, Las Vegas, NV, at Dolby Live
  • Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Las Vegas, NV, at Dolby Live
  • Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Las Vegas, NV, at Dolby Live
  • Friday, December 5, 2025, Las Vegas, NV, at Dolby Live
  • Saturday, December 6, 2025, Las Vegas, NV, at Dolby Live
  • Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Las Vegas, NV, at Dolby Live
  • Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Las Vegas, NV, at Dolby Live
  • Friday, December 12, 2025, Las Vegas, NV, at Dolby Live
  • Saturday, December 13, 2025, Las Vegas, NV, at Dolby Live

International concert date

  • Saturday, February 7, 2026, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, at Saadiyat Island (Open Air Venue) (Saadiyat Nights: Mariah Carey)

For ticket info, fans can visit Carey's official pages.


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Edited by Gourab Kundu