Mariah Carey gets copyright lawsuit over All I Want For Christmas Is You dismissed after going viral over diva act

Mariah Carey successfully got a lawsuit accusing her of ripping off the lyrics and melody of another song for her hit holiday track All I Want For Christmas Is You, with a judge finding ‘an absence of evidence’ to support allegations the songstress copied her tune from another. 

Carey, 55, was accused of copying Troy Powers and Andy Stone’s 1989 song – which is also named All I Want For Christmas Is You – in a 2023 lawsuit, in which they alleged her 1994 holiday track was similar to their own both musically and lyrically.

But now a judge has determined that the pair did not have enough proof demonstrating Carey ripped off their track, according to People.

The Associated Press reports that Carey’s request for summary judgment was granted by Judge Monica Almadani on Wednesday. 

The two songs were also analyzed by a musicologist-music professor, who described the two tracks as ‘very different’ with the only resemblance being ‘common lyrical idea and Christmas song clichés that were in common use prior to’ the song released by Stone.

Carey’s track was found not to have infringed on Stone’s copyright due to their many differences. 

Almadani made the decision in a Los Angeles court, and court documents from the ruling state ‘there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case’ that Carey’s song took heavy inspiration from Powers and Stone’s track.

Additionally, Stone was recognized to have not come up with the phrase ‘all I want for Christmas is you’.

Sanctions were also ordered against the plaintiffs and their lawyers by the judge, who called their suit and follow-up filings frivolous, according to the AP.

She also said their attorneys ‘made no reasonable effort to ensure that the factual contentions asserted have evidentiary support.’

The plaintiffs must also pay a portion of the defendant’s attorney fees, the judge said.

Carey’s co-writer Walter Afanasieff was also a co-defendant in the case. 

It comes after Carey attended the iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday, where she went viral for her savage reaction to a music tribute ahead of her accepting the Icon Award. 

The Obsessed singer had the chance to watch both Muni Long and Tori Kelly belt out a few of her hit tracks from over the years during the ceremony in L.A.

However, at one point as Long sang We Belong Together – the camera briefly cut to Carey in a now-viral clip on X as she slowly turned her head away from the stage and gave a side-eye glance to her right.

Sitting next to the songstress was rumored boyfriend Anderson .Paak who could be seen enthusiastically grooving to the tune.

Another moment that was also caught on camera showed Mariah with a big grin on her face – which slowly faded as the performance continued.

Fans quickly shared their own thoughts on X, with one penning, ‘Mariah Carey is not feeling these performances and is not hiding that fact. lol #iHeartAwards 2025 #MariahCarey.’

‘I have so many questions…,’ another wrote, and one added, ‘This going to be a new Meme! i’m telling you.’

A social media user typed, ‘Mariah watching ppl butchering her songs lol,’ and a fan commented, ‘Mariah Carey reaction to Muni Long singing her song just SENT ME OMFG.’

‘The way Mariah Carey can’t help but show her disinterest on her face but I get it I’m the same my face tells everything. She cracks me up. Personally I thought Tori killed it though!’ another penned.

One added, ‘Now mfs mad at Mariah.. Man Mariah Carey a real vocalist bruh. Of course she don’t want yall performing her song.’

‘Mariah Carey high or drunk during this awards show. LMFAOOOOOO,’ and another questioned, ‘Okay who’s got the tea on what’s up with Mariah Carey cuz….?’