SZA's Mariah Carey Tease, AI Stance, and Not Beauty Launch | Pop Culture Roundup

SZA BioSnap a weekly updated Biography. SZA has dominated headlines this week with a flurry of major stories that have the music world buzzing. The most significant development is her much-discussed interaction with Mariah Carey. On September 20, SZA sent Carey a striking bouquet of pink roses and a touching handwritten note posted to both their Instagram Stories, expressing deep gratitude and admiration for Carey’s influence on her artistry. Carey responded with flowers of her own, along with a mysterious note saying “9.24.25 See you soon,” a cryptic tease that has ignited enormous fan speculation. According to Hot 97, social media jumped on this as a hint at either an imminent collaboration, a surprise performance, a new remix, or possibly even a one-night extravaganza tied to Carey’s anticipated Here for it All album release on September 26. While neither artist has confirmed a track together, the timing and mutual online affection have left fans eager for a musical crossover. Meanwhile, SZA has kept her own name buzzing by taking a very public stand against artificial intelligence. As reported by Hollywood Unlocked and the Hindustan Times, she has used her Instagram Stories to blast the rise of AI-generated music and photos, directly addressing her fans and pleading with them to stop making fake AI pictures of her or using her voice for synthetic songs. She warned that such endeavors not only devalue artists but also cause environmental harm, bringing attention to the pollution caused by massive AI data centers. Her comments went viral and sparked wider debate after news broke that AI artist Xania Monet had signed a reported three million dollar record deal, an event SZA sharply criticized as “devaluing our music” and potentially disrespectful to marginalized artists in R&B. The conversation was amplified as other artists like Kehlani and Chloe Bailey joined the chorus opposing AI in creative spaces. In business news, SZA unveiled her first beauty brand, Not Beauty, with a personal and practical edge. Through AOL and numerous style outlets, she introduced a line of hydrating lip glosses designed to last “as long as my show,” emphasizing quality and eco-aware packaging inspired by nature. SZA positioned Not Beauty not as a typical celebrity cash-in, but as a solution to a real need she felt was missing in the industry, sharing her excitement and confidence in the brand. On the awards circuit, SZA was notably absent from the 2025 MTV VMAs despite being nominated for Best R&B Song and Best Collaboration, losing to Mariah Carey and to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. AOL reports she broke her silence after the event with an Instagram post about peace, offering candid reflections in her recent Interview magazine chat with Chappell Roan on curiosity, spirituality, and always feeling like the underdog. To sum up, SZA’s week has been a whirlwind of rumored major collaborations, bold cultural commentary, entrepreneurial moves, and self-reflection—keepin This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.