Mariah Carey: I Was Drunk During Acceptance Speech

LOS ANGELES — Mariah Carey jokingly blames her loony acceptance speech at the Palm Springs International Film Festival awards on director Lee Daniels.

"The thing is me and Lee hadn't see each other in a long time, and then he was presenting my award, so he starts off immediately with inside jokes," Carey said backstage at the People's Choice Awards Wednesday night, where she was named favorite R&B artist.

"We had splashes of champagne, and I love Lee but he's a bad influence," the singer said and laughed.

Carey gave a long, rambling acceptance speech after being named Breakthrough Actress for her performance in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" on Tuesday. Daniels directed the movie.

The video of her speech was one of the most popular on the Internet, and led to jokes at Carey's expense.

The 39-year-old says she was rushing to receive the honor and didn't eat enough. She also says people shouldn't take the speech too serious.

"If people don't understand me and think I'm just like this girl that stands by a microphone and sings 'Hero,' then they're definitely not going to get me," she explained. "But if people knew me better, they would understand I have a sense of humor, and basically that's what gets me through life."

Comments

[deepsouthfugee]

09:25 PM on 01/12/2010

People drink. Sometimes people get drunk. As long as they're not behind the wheel of a car, who cares?

Anyway, she owned her sh@t. Respect.

[phlashba]

06:22 PM on 01/12/2010

Everybody seems to be missing the story: She was drunk and she ADMITTED she was drunk ---not cold medication, jet lag or some typical lame excuse. She just got my respect for that.

[lemondade]

03:08 AM on 01/09/2010

When you are a year away from 40 years old, this is nothing to "giggle" about! She should apologize to the sponsors for her behavior.

If she was 17 years old, I would be more understanding of her behavior as a speaker at an awards show that is being broadcast all over the world. It is time for Mariah to grow up.

[slippery pete]

12:11 AM on 01/13/2010

I wanna party with you...not

[John R Carlisle]

12:01 AM on 01/09/2010

It was without a doubt a Paula Abdul moment.

John R. Carlisle

[Agentlady007]

09:17 PM on 01/08/2010

I love Mariah. She is ~so the new Diana Ross.

[dwill123]

05:12 PM on 01/08/2010

Mariah Carey almost falling down drunk to receive an award that her fans voted her to receive. Ever wonder why you don't see her doing more movies?

[mmgbizgirl]

02:59 PM on 01/08/2010

Having a Paula Abdul moment.

[Maygressive]

02:35 PM on 01/08/2010

Really ?

In other Breaking news, Sky quoted as saying "I'm blue"

[DCSuburb]

12:50 PM on 01/08/2010

very unbecoming, as it always is with drunks

[grailknight]

12:31 PM on 01/08/2010

Drunk? No pinched loaf!

[aznurse]

11:19 AM on 01/08/2010

Why does she sabotage anything good about herself.?

[ellawensmom]

11:06 AM on 01/08/2010

She gets on my nerves.

[CherrySpring]

10:57 AM on 01/08/2010

Classy. "I...care so muck...about this awar...that I'm gonna give my accept--ed speeck *burp* drunk."

[abdallac]

10:06 AM on 01/08/2010

Always classy, Mariah..hey, and.two thumbs up for wearing more fabric than you normally do!

[Cimms]

02:43 PM on 01/08/2010

I gave her two thumbs down for wearing more fabric.

[Concerned1]

09:37 AM on 01/08/2010

Mariah Carey is a performer and is good at it. She is a grown woman and whats wrong with having a couple of drinks for a responsible adult. Society wants that perfect person. They don't exist. We thought they did with Tiger, but surprise surprise.

I thought it was pretty funny and at least she kept it real.

[wm1066]

12:37 PM on 01/08/2010

So in your world if you know you are going to get an award, getting blind drunk is okay...really... that shows responsiblity!