Tonight, September 12-13, VMAS 2023 saw moments that are poised to go down in music and pop culture history. At the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the awards ceremony for the best music videos of the past 12 months was attended by some of the music world’s biggest names, who enlivened one of the most anticipated nights of the year with their performances.
The undisputed queen of this year’s VMAS was without a doubt Taylor Swift, who finished the night with 11 nominations and won 9 awards, including the MTV Video Music Award for Artist of the Year, as well as awards for Album, Video and Song of the Year with Single. Anti-Hero.
Among the winners were Måneskin, who received the award for best rock video with their single “THE LONELIEST”, as well as… a kiss from Taylor Swift. The singer actually kissed the Roman band’s frontman Damiano during the performance, as seen in a video that went viral.
Maneskin’s performance for Taylor Swift is one thing, but her blowing kisses to Damiano is surreal, multiverse-enough.
#BMApic.twitter.com/kJu2dv6Fdm— Julia²⁵ ⧗ (@Giuliaesaurita) September 13, 2023
Perhaps because she was thrilled with the numerous nominations, perhaps because she was caught up in the evening’s dynamism, Taylor Swift also gave a lively performance of Shakira’s hits – including “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Objection (Tango)” and ” Whenever Whenever.” , Wherever.” Winner of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and Best Collaboration with Carol G, she also tried her hand at crowdsurfing during her performance.
TAYLOR SWIFT CANTANDO AND BAYLANDO AL SON OF SHAKIRA! #plumweight #shakira #ShakiraVMA #pique #ShakiraAvangarde #Selena Gomez #bzrap MTV #straykids Blackpink #BMA #BMA #VMA2023 PINK VENOM from BLACKPINK vmas NICKI Y KAROL G Anitta pic.twitter.com/OT47napnuN
– This is Loco! (@estoesloco_es) September 13, 2023
Olivia Rodrigo’s performance also went viral as she won the award for Best Editing for Vampire: There appeared to be a malfunction on stage that forced a staff member to remove the singer, who returned to perform shortly after. However, it appears that the “explosions” on stage were in fact planned, according to media outlets including People magazine.
OLIVIA RODRIGO shuts everyone up #BMA ?!?!?!!? pic.twitter.com/0MB2bidQmy
— Daniel (@earthdweller104) September 13, 2023
And as the names of the Best R&B nominees were read out, the cameras focused on Gomez, who appeared to wrinkle his nose when the name Chris Brown, who pleaded guilty in 2009 to assaulting Rihanna, his ex-fiancée, was mentioned. Since then, he has faced several allegations of harassment from former girlfriends and acquaintances, of which he maintains he is innocent.
Tags: Selena Gomez, Shakira, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, MTV VMA 2023