article

Mariah Carey’s Christmas Controversy on The Viral List

Mariah Carey’s “tone-deaf” Sephora ad, Marcus the worm, and Gen Z’s (lack of) hidden talents are going viral…

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team

Nov 7 2025
North America, Western Europe

KEY TAKEAWAYS

“It’s time!” Mariah Carey is back, but with a Sephora ad that’s sparking backlash for jokes about healthcare prices
TikTok is obsessed with Marcus the Worm, a deadpan VR character made by a gaming streamer
Gen Z is putting their singing talents to the test, but most won’t be quitting their day jobs

Mariah Carey’s Sephora holiday collab is not getting love from Gen Z Mariah Carey officially kicked off the holiday season on Nov. 1 with her annual “It’s time!” video—but this year’s didn’t exactly hit the right note. The video is a Sephora ad also featuring comedian Billy Eichner as a rebellious elf, and quickly went viral with over 100M views on TikTok and counting. However, many young viewers say the ad’s story line felt tone-deaf going into a tight-budget holiday season. The ad opens with Carey announcing the start of the holidays in her signature glam style, but suddenly realizes...