This yr’s MTV Video Music Awards, airing dwell from the UBS Enviornment in Lengthy Island, New York on Sept. 7, will mark the awards’ forty first anniversary — and what a wild trip it has been.
From Madonna kissing each Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera whereas performing “Like a Virgin” in 2003 to Beyoncé revealing she was anticipating her first baby in 2011 to Taylor Swift being simply as excited as the remainder of us that *NSYNC was collectively in the identical room in 2023, over the 4 many years of VMAs historical past, viewers have caught some extraordinarily memorable moments.
Right here, a glance again on 22 of the present’s most jaw-dropping moments, forward of 2025’s honors.
The Most Nostalgia-Inducing
In 2023, followers had been shocked to see all 5 members of *NSYNC, which had disbanded practically 20 years earlier, walked out collectively to current finest pop video. The group within the Prudential Middle in New Jersey — and, we assume, audiences at house — went wild. And when Taylor Swift joined them on stage to simply accept the award, she was simply as excited as the remainder of us.
“I am not doing properly pivoting from this to this,” she mentioned as she started her acceptance speech, gesturing to Justin Timberlake,Joey Fatone, JC Chasez, Lance Bass and Chris Kirkpatrick standing behind her.
“I had your dolls,” she continued (Kirkpatrick corrected her: “Marionettes!”). “Like, are you doing one thing? What is going on to occur now … They will do one thing and I must know what it’s!”
The Sexiest
Nobody will ever overlook the opening variety of the 2003 VMAs, when Madonna introduced Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera alongside to carry out “Like a Virgin,” then kissed them each, passing down the pop diva torch as solely she may.
The Happiest
Oh, child! After rocking out on stage to her music “Love on High” on the 2011 present, Beyoncé unbuttoned her sparkly jacket and put her child bump on show, signaling to the viewers that, sure, she was certainly pregnant. JAY-Z beamed from the entrance row – it was a joyous event for all. If solely individuals had paid extra consideration to how she launched the music: “I need you to face up in your toes,” she mentioned. “I need you to really feel the love that is rising inside me.” Oh, now we get it!
It was a full circle second 4 years later when JAY-Z and daughter Blue Ivy got here out to current her with the 2014 Video Vanguard Award.
“Thanks. I’ve nothing to say, however I am thrilled with a lot gratitude. I simply thank God for this second. I really like y’all a lot,” she tearfully informed the gang. “My beloved, I really like you. My followers, I really like you. MTV, I really like you. Good evening!”
The Shadiest
Fifth Concord started their efficiency of “Down” in 2017 with 5 individuals on the stage, however earlier than the music really kicked off, one “member” was thrown off stage. Followers shortly assumed the booted performer was meant to signify Camila Cabello, who left Fifth Concord in 2016.
The Raunchiest
Miley Cyrus shocked viewers by stripping all the way down to a nude bikini prime and briefs and grinding, twerking and thrusting on fellow performer Robin Thicke on the 2013 present in one of many raciest performances in MTV historical past. “Madonna’s executed it. Britney’s executed it. Each VMA efficiency … that is what you are in search of; you are eager to make historical past,” the starlet mentioned afterward.
The Bare-est
Effectively, lots of people have been fairly bare on the VMAs. However none did it extra memorably than Lil’ Kim, who wore a one-shoulder look that featured solely a pastie on her left breast, inflicting co-presenter Diana Ross to offer Lil’ Kim’s adorned chest a joking jiggle as they hit the stage collectively.
The Feud-iest
Drama was brewing between VMAs host Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj previous to the 2015 awards, after Cyrus referred to as the rapper “not too variety” in an interview with the New York Occasions. Minaj retaliated whereas accepting the award for finest hip-hop video, beginning with, “Now, again to this b—- that had lots to say about me the opposite day within the press … Miley, what’s good?!” Cyrus was fast to defend herself, implying her phrases had been manipulated by the Occasions. The Web was torn on whether or not or not the drama was actual.
The Cringiest
On the 2016 awards, Drake offered Rihanna, with whom he reportedly had an on-and-off factor, with the Video Vanguard Award, delivering a transferring speech by which he mentioned, “She’s somebody I have been in love with since I used to be 22 years previous. She’s certainly one of my finest mates on the planet. She’s a dwelling, respiratory legend in our trade.”
When handing RiRi her statuette, he went in for a kiss — however the pop star turned her cheek (ouch!). Rihanna later thanked the rapper for his phrases in a prolonged Instagram publish concerning the evening, which did not fairly give anybody hope Drake would make it out of the buddy zone: “Your speech was so touching and I really like you for that!” she wrote.
The Most Tone-Deaf
Earlier than presenting Video of the 12 months on the 2018 awards, Madonna paid tribute to Aretha Franklin, in a second critics referred to as completely tone deaf.
The singer mentioned that, if not for Franklin, she wouldn’t be Madonna, after which proceeded to talk about herself somewhat than specializing in Franklin’s legacy. Folks had been upset with not solely Madge, however MTV as properly, for what they noticed as a scarcity of a correct tribute to the legendary Franklin, who died of pancreatic most cancers only a month earlier than.
The Goriest
How may we overlook Girl Gaga’s “Paparazzi” efficiency on the 2009 awards? Storming the stage to carry out “Poker Face” earlier than shifting to “Paparazzi,” the rising star sang concerning the value of fame whereas faux blood gushed from her stomach.
After she theatrically collapsed, her backup dancers tied and hoisted her up on a rope, rising above the gang. The viewers was shocked – which is simply what Gaga envisioned.
“I needed to say one thing about how the movie star type of has this inevitable demise that we love to observe,” she later informed MTV that yr. “However are we killing them or are they killing themselves? And do they love the celebrity and want it however probably not need it? And why, when the cameras are there, do they draw back? But when the cameras had been there for another person, would they be jealous?”
The Meatiest
However that efficiency was simply the tip of the iceberg. The next yr, Gaga had the lots buzzing when she confirmed up sporting a uncooked meat gown. The unconventional ensemble was a part of her protest in opposition to the army’s “do not ask, do not inform coverage,” which restricted the rights of LGBTQ+ troopers, per Billboard.
“It’s definitely no disrespect to anybody that’s vegan or vegetarian,” the singer defined whereas on The Ellen Present, Billboard reported. “As you understand, I’m probably the most judgment-free human being on the Earth. It has many interpretations, however for me this night it’s [saying], ‘If we don’t arise for what we imagine in, if we don’t struggle for our rights, fairly quickly we’re going to have as a lot rights because the meat on our bones.’
The Quickest
It was good whereas it lasted! Followers went wild when the unique members of Van Halen walked the VMAs stage to current an award in 1996, showing collectively for the primary time in additional than 11 years. Sadly, the reunion was short-lived: the group practically got here to blows (over a hip-replacement joke, no much less) backstage, ending the reunion earlier than the evening was over.
The Most Prestigious…?
Speak about a birthday reward! The 2002 MTV VMAs fell on Michael Jackson’s forty fourth birthday, and Britney Spears was tasked with presenting the King of Pop with a celebratory cake and particular statue. Nevertheless, the second grew to become infamously awkward when the starlet described Jackson as “the artist of the millennium” in her introduction, and Jackson thought he received an award of the identical title.
From there, the “Billie Jean” singer gave an an acceptance speech for the very imaginary “artist of the millennium” award.
The Strangest
Was it one thing we mentioned? Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher went on certainly one of his bad-boy tirades throughout a efficiency on the 1996 present by swearing, wandering the stage and making lewd gestures throughout his brother Noel’s guitar solo. He completed the music by tossing a beer on the stage and storming off.
The Most Marshall Mathers
Will the actual Slim Shady please arise? Eminem introduced the shock when he carried out “The Actual Slim Shady” on the 2000 awards present, strolling down a line of dozens of real-life lookalikes queued up on Sixth Avenue in New York Metropolis. As he rapped about originality and making a reputation for himself within the music trade, the squad of Slims marched into Radio Metropolis Music Corridor, the place the VMAs had been held.
The Sultriest
She’s a snake 4 u! Britney Spears stole the present when she held a dwell python and carried out her hit “I am a Slave 4 U” with a dwell python wrapped round her neck on the 2001 awards.
The star would go on to reference the long-lasting second via the years, dancing with a stuffed snake and even declaring that she was the snake 20 years later, presumably alluding to her controversial conservatorship battle.
“I held a snake on the @VMAS one time however determined to go forward 20 years later and turn out to be the motherf—— snake myself 🐍🐍🐍 !!!!” she wrote on Instagram in June 2021, posting a photograph of herself in a lime inexperienced snakeskin catsuit.
The Most Trailblazing
Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” efficiency on the very first MTV VMAs in 1984 set the tone for the headline-making moments to come back. It was nonetheless early in her profession when she dressed as a bride to descend from a 17-ft. wedding ceremony cake, however the efficiency took a left flip when she misplaced a heel and determined to improvise.
“So I assumed, ‘Effectively, I will simply faux I meant to do that,’ and I dove on the ground and I rolled round,” she informed Jay Leno on The Tonight Present in 2012. “And, as I reached for the shoe, the gown went up. And the underpants had been displaying. I did not imply to!”
She pretended to masturbate and completed the music together with her gown over her head, exposing her rear finish, so it is no marvel her supervisor was “white” with anger after the efficiency, saying she ruined her profession, as Madonna recalled to Leno.
As a substitute, the pivotal efficiency proved to be Madonna’s breakout second, and Like a Virgin would turn out to be her first primary album.
The Prince-iest
In 1991, Prince carried out his hit “Get Off” in his ordinary attractive type, turning round to disclose he was in butt-framing chaps. Years later, nonetheless, the designer revealed the ensemble wasn’t really peek-a-boo: there was in truth sheer cloth masking the artist’s rear finish.
The Most Self Conscious-ist
Not lengthy after he was arrested at a Florida theater for indecent publicity, Pee-Wee Herman, a.ok.a. Paul Reubens, stunned the gang when he appeared on the VMAs stage in 1991 and requested, “Heard any good jokes recently?” The transfer received him again some followers and helped flip the nook in his performing profession. Herman died on July 30, 2023 at 70 years previous.
The Most ‘Diva Stole My Look’
The 1998 VMAs opened with a humorous diva off between Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Although there had been rumors of a feud between the 2, the vocal powerhouses at all times assured followers that they had been good mates and this opening skit was certainly one of their enjoyable moments.
“Vera Wang made these attire for us each to be matching — so we might be matching, however have slightly little bit of a distinct factor, proper?” she defined to Vogue. “And we had been opening the present with this bit, which was speculated to be like ‘Effectively, right here’s my factor,’ and she or he’s like ‘Effectively, take a look at mine,’ We [were] having a fake competitors of the look.”
Requested if she stored the gown all these years, Mimi revealed somebody really stole it.
The Most Throwback
When Megan Thee Stallion paid homage to Britney Spears finally yr’s present, she left no stone unturned. The “Hiss” rapper not solely pulled out Spears’ bikini costume, she additionally made certain to have a dwell albino python, identical to the pop star did in her 2001 efficiency.
