After a socially distanced event last year, the MTV Video Music Awards were back in full swing this time around at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Sunday night to bring us some iconic performances from our favourite artists and to see who won a coveted moon man.
Some of the biggest winners this year were Olivia Rodrigo, winning song of the year and best new artist, while Justin Bieber took home Artist of the Year. Billie Eilish said “We need to protect our young women at all costs,” while accepting the Video for Good award for Your Power and Lil Nas X video of the year with ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’.
Like any award show, viewers love to react to the performances, speeches and outfits so here are some of the best memes and reactions from the night.
VMA’s and Met Gala in the same week
With the VMAs and Met Gala happening within a day of each other, fashion Twitter was getting prepared for the influx of red carpet looks within the next 48 hours (and channelling their inner Amanda Presley).
vmas tonight, met gala tomorrow… fashion twitter is ready and i would be scared if i was a celebrity pic.twitter.com/voYBVtD7MI
— 2000s (@PopCulture2000s) September 12, 2021
vmas tonight met gala tomorrow the tl gonna be a mess pic.twitter.com/zOkMuz4BbU
— َ (@SAYlTLlKEDAT) September 12, 2021
vmas tomorrow and met gala on monday
— mia (@arianashortpony) September 11, 2021
twt is going to be fun again
me transitioning from the vmas to the met gala pic.twitter.com/WQXCYeTJh8
— lai (@cinecults) September 13, 2021
VMA’S tonight and MET Gala tomorrow. My tl on these two days ….. pic.twitter.com/KQtQHceQ6m
— Sway Art (@JSwayArt) September 12, 2021
Britney Spears announces engagement at the same time
While the VMAs were happening, pop star Britney Spears had announced her engagement to long-term boyfriend Sam Asghari and people couldn’t help but joke about the timing of the news.
vmas: "we are the biggest night in pop culture"
— britney's glory (@godneyszone) September 12, 2021
britney: hold my snake pic.twitter.com/MARZhBkeET
Lil Nas X wins Video of the Year
Lil Nas X stole the show with his amazing red carpet look, albeit without his pregnant bump to celebrate the release of his debut album this week (he’s also going to the Met Gala too - talk about a busy week!)
On top of that, the Industry Baby singer took home Video of the Year for Montero (Call Me By Your Name) where he thanked “the gay agenda – let’s go gay agenda!” and added, “I do not take this for granted.”
So tired of stars promoting unrealistic body types, losing the baby weight this fast isn’t healthy @LilNasX https://t.co/QFP9f9x0eK
— Yell in a War (@jelenawoehr) September 12, 2021
Lil Nas X really said fuck you homophobic people let me enjoy myself in front of everyone #VMAspic.twitter.com/V2CsiXj88A
— BEARRY (@bbvafri) September 13, 2021
Lil Nas X knows his references #vmas pic.twitter.com/CSxD0dK3gc
— Best Vision TV (@Bestvisiontv) September 13, 2021
A Spongebob reference was also used to describe Madonna’s VMA’s outfit
Madonna very much serving “and why aren’t you in uniform” #VMA #VMAs pic.twitter.com/CCkuZrcm4s
— m@k (@MaKayla_Day21) September 13, 2021
Justin Bieber takes home the Artist of the Year award
The Canadian singer also won Best Pop Video for “Peaches” – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon, Def Jam.
People couldn’t help but notice his hooded attire reminded them of a certain Kermit the Frog meme.
Justin Bieber on #VMAs pic.twitter.com/qW1gqNTh9h
— giulia (@angellspeak) September 13, 2021
While people had mixed reactions to the Peaches singer winning artist of the year.
…. how tf did justin bieber beat… ARIANA GRANDE, TAYLOR SWIFT, OLIVIA RODRIGO, DOJA CAT AND MEG THEE STALLION FOR ARTIST OF THE YEAR WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK NOTHING HE DID THIS YEAR OR HAS EVER DONE HS COMPARED TO THEM??? #VMA pic.twitter.com/jCtkxKgoUt
— SUCCESSION S3 ERA PENDING… (@itweetabttv) September 13, 2021
justin bieber… artist of the year… something ain’t adding up #VMAs pic.twitter.com/leojfPPbeZ
— seth (@plentyoftears) September 13, 2021
Justin Bieber artist of the year…when Doja Cat exists? #VMAs pic.twitter.com/N2xOoM30FK
— Samoa Joto (@cleHOpatrick) September 13, 2021
Megan Fox calls boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly “daddy”
The actress made the comment during a red carpet interview and also called the same thing in an Instagram post, writing: “Daddy’s gonna win a VMA,” and let’s just say it’s gotten mixed opinions on Twitter.
MEGAN FOX Calling MACHINE GUN KELLY DADDY 👅#VMAs 🔥🔥🔥
— m (@4mnee) September 13, 2021
pic.twitter.com/I1486Digrp
I LOVE THEM 🖤🖤🖤 https://t.co/dk7EjkGeFv
— Solarie 🌸 (@eiranul) September 13, 2021
Hell yeah🔥🔥 https://t.co/itNiXsBm8o
— 𝕰𝖘 𝖚𝖓𝖆 𝕭𝖎𝖈𝖍𝖎𝖞𝖆𝖑 🐍🖤 (@itsnicole_agrd) September 13, 2021
https://t.co/fVQmK0BO2V pic.twitter.com/FO16Z9PccT
— stella (@ouilees) September 13, 2021
dear god the cringe https://t.co/og3YyZMvfF
— ☣️ (@lethalffs) September 13, 2021
Megan Fox (again) and Kourtney Kardashian introduce their boyfriends, Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Barker
During their introduction, Fox describes the musicians as her and Kourtney’s “future baby daddies” (we’re seeing a pattern here), and it prompted plenty of reactions.
megan fox: “give it up for our future baby daddies”
— kathleen (@kathleen_hanley) September 13, 2021
kourtney kardashian: “machine gun kelly and travis barker”
scott disick at home watching: #VMAs pic.twitter.com/5SrMVP9Wx5
Megan and Kourtney introducing machine gun Kelly and Travis barker as their, ‘future baby daddies’ >>>>>>> #VMA pic.twitter.com/TeK42HcOYI
— Jazmyn Dorsett (@jazmyndorsett) September 13, 2021
My face when #MeganFox said future baby daddies.. okayy siss#futurebabydaddies#VMA #mtvvma #MachineLearning #KourtneyKardashian pic.twitter.com/TQI4oYuPWT
— Juuiiccyyjay (@juuiiccyyjay) September 13, 2021
Oop not Megan Fox saying Future baby daddies. kourtney did not approve that message😂 #MTVVMAs pic.twitter.com/XYbT9elnRf
— Ashli Doss (@AshliDoss) September 13, 2021
Not future baby daddies #VMAs pic.twitter.com/jkzc4Bn1Fz
— BAKARI (@danisbabysitter) September 13, 2021
Did she just say “our future baby daddies” pic.twitter.com/1x88TmnZNL
— 11:11 ❗️ (@Marzthagoat) September 13, 2021
Megan Fox: Our future baby daddies
— aling rowena (@aling_rowena) September 13, 2021
Kourtney K: **gurlllllll not for me**#VMAs pic.twitter.com/9hCOjDU3FR
Doja Cat hosted the show and Twitter was loving it
It was a busy night for the Say So singer who also won Best Collaboration for her song “Kiss Me More” featuring SZA and performed “Been Like This” and “You Right” and viewers were impressed with the high-flying performance that saw her be suspended in the air.
Watching Doja Cat give us a professional modern dance routine #VMAs pic.twitter.com/5TstoY6Atu
— Joshua Chenault (@joshuachenault1) September 13, 2021
doja cat - been like this live from the #vmas pic.twitter.com/92rcYOmbjc
— autumn 🪐 (@autumnasasadboy) September 13, 2021
But that wasn’t the only talking point of the night, as one particular outfit of Doja’s caught the eye of viewers - even Doja said when accepting her “I never thought I’d be dressed as a worm accepting an award,” the singer said.
Doja Cat wasn’t lying when she said she looked like a worm #VMAs pic.twitter.com/M0tZd7Keyx
— JushForFans (@jush_for_fun) September 13, 2021
“i look like a worm”- doja cat at the 2021 vma’s
— kyndall ❀♥︎ (@kyndallcollinss) September 13, 2021
.@DojaCat said pic.twitter.com/h3lpyVYfYl
— kacey musGAYves (@paperssil) September 13, 2021
why doja giving alaskan bull worm tonight 😭 #vmas pic.twitter.com/o6R5U9YvTU
— g (@bearonwarmrock) September 13, 2021
doja accepting her award be like pic.twitter.com/JLs4KgnCGi
— august (@dlaminibabe) September 13, 2021
Olivia Rodrigo performs “good 4 u” at the VMA’s
The 18-year-old singer also won two Moon men for best new artist and best song, “Drivers License” which became the most streamed song ever in January.
She also performed her hit song “good 4 u” and gave so much teenage angst that she even smashed the camera at the end of the song which people loved.
NOT OLIVIA RODRIGO BREAKING THE CAMERA DURING HER PERFORMANCE OF 'GOOD 4 U' 😭 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/kGppT9ql95
— squid || fan account 🐙 (@greedymotivez) September 13, 2021
I mean, Olivia Rodrigo be like performing and at the same time breaking the camera. This one is ICONIC! Congratulations to our Best New Artist!!! pic.twitter.com/lx7C15001b
— 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓶𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 (@fritzjanross) September 13, 2021
Only @Olivia_Rodrigo can break the cameras like this #VMAs pic.twitter.com/0OeyB1XPkv
— 🧣 (@tswiftsbt13) September 13, 2021
The way #OliviaRodrigo broke that camera 😩😩 pic.twitter.com/JXh5Wtvm3h
— mari1️⃣9️⃣ (@Dickfriday01) September 13, 2021
olivia rodrigo breaking the camera like she keeps breaking records pic.twitter.com/VpZT0LgWgp
— jojo🧣 (@jaehyunsour) September 13, 2021
Normani channels Janet Jackson during her VMA performance with Teyana Taylor
Fans of the Motivation singer went wild over her debut live performance of her new single “Wild Side,” and the choreography definitely lived up to the song title as Normani gave Taylor a lapdance during the performance.
It is said to be a nod to Janet Jackson’s 2002 Live in Hawaii performance of “Would You Mind.”
UH NORMANI PAYING HOMAGE TO JANET JACKSON’S LIVE PERFORMANCES AND GIVING TEYANA TAYLOR A LAPDANCE. YES LORD. #VMAs pic.twitter.com/D4Lus6nX1e
— 𝕮𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖙 𝕶𝖎𝖒 💥 (@TheCourtKim) September 13, 2021
normani referenced both aaliyah and janet, YEA SHE KNOWS! #VMAs pic.twitter.com/QfI3BZlW7V
— ‘𝘮.☆ (@dlceszn) September 13, 2021
the very SECOND I saw that contraption I knew a Janet Jackson homage was about to happen..then Normani…and Teyana..they they..
— Semiyah (@MoMoFurbee) September 13, 2021
Then it just happened and all I could do was pic.twitter.com/7sSPVgmRGF
Normani studied Janet and did her homework pic.twitter.com/gdk1yCYZys
— ✨ (@heyjaeee) September 13, 2021
Pop culture fanatics don’t have to wait too long for another red carpet, as the Met Gala is set to take place tonight.