It’s officially Mariah Carey season—but not everyone is in the holiday spirit this year.
Right after Halloween, Carey released her annual “it’s time” video to ring in November and mark the return of her timeless Christmas classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” While fans usually look forward to the festive tradition, this year’s video didn’t land quite as well.
In the clip, Carey walks into a dressing room only to discover her Sephora makeup has been stolen. The culprit turns out to be an elf, played by Billy Eichner, who admits he’s pawning her cosmetics “so [he] can afford elf therapy.” Using the power of her hit song, Carey transforms him into a snowman, declaring that he “can’t cancel Christmas.”
Given the timing of the ad—dropping amid widespread corporate layoffs and an ongoing government shutdown—many viewers found it out of touch, especially as families across the country struggle financially.
“just watched the mariah carey sephora ad… girl now is not the time to be insensitive what the hell,” one user wrote on X.
Other viewers urged their followers to cut back on holiday spending. “That Sephora commercial with Mariah Carey where the elf cancels Christmas is so tone deaf. Y’all better stay home Black Friday and y’all better not be shopping online either,” one person wrote.
One user on Threads slammed the campaign as “disrespectful AF,” adding, “let it serve as a reminder of what corporations think of their customers.”
Another pointed out the disconnect between celebrities and everyday people, writing, “Making her ‘it’s time’ announcement into a Sephora commercial basically telling the working class that we can’t cancel Christmas is INSANE work. The end of celebrity culture has been a sight to see.”
Some fans, however, defended Carey, noting that the ad was likely filmed months in advance.
This isn’t the first time Carey has teamed up with major brands for her annual Christmas campaigns—she’s previously partnered with McDonald’s, Kay Jewelers, and Black Irish.
As of now, neither Carey nor Sephora have responded to the criticism.
