 Carey performed " Obsessed " on several televised appearances since its release . On August 5 , 2009 , Carey performed the song live for the first time on the fourth season of the talent competition , America 's Got Talent . Carey , appearing in jeans and a black top , was accompanied by several male dancers and three back @-@ up singers . As she performed the song , the dancers hoisted her into the air several times , and carried her to several areas on the stage . During the performance , several white lights flashed , while monitors behind the dancers showed images of Carey and the video . Breanne Heldman from E ! Entertainment Television criticized several aspects of the performance . She described the lighting as " anxiety inducing " , and wrote , " That said , no one is doubting the singer 's impressive set of pipes , but — frighteningly jarring lighting and quick edits aside — did she actually utilize them on ' America 's Got Talent ' last night ? " Aside from questioning the singers live vocals , she also felt Carey seemed " robotic " , and didn 't show effort or interest in the performance . A reviewer from Idolator also was critical on the performance , asking if there was " anything good about [ it ] " . He claimed Carey was lip @-@ syncing , and described it as " lackadaisical " , and wrote , " the backup dancers ’ moves would have probably received a big red ' X ' from at least one of the judges . " 
