VMAs Reaction

A Full 4 Hours

The VMAs were a complete 4 hours. After a year of anticipation, the awards were done late Tuesday night after hours of awards, musical performances, show-stopping outfits and outfit changes.

With more than 20 musical artist performances, it was obvious the crowd had high energy and were enjoying the night.

A special performance done by Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and others during the Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary showed each hip-hop artist’s strengths and how they can work together as a complete unit in the music industry.

Seeing other artists support each other throughout the red carpet, award ceremony and performances gave viewers a sigh of relief after the turmoil the industry is sometimes polluted with. – Natalie Simone

Sean “Diddy” Combs Special Award Acceptance

After years of dedication and hard work, Sean “Diddy” Combs was publicly honored with the “Global Icon Award.”

He performed songs pulled from his 30 years of work, with his children on stage to support him. His twins, Jessie and D’Lia, encouraged their father as backup dancers while his oldest son, Christian “King'' Combs, joined the performance alongside Diddy.

Diddy finished his special performance and award acceptance by thanking God for allowing him to share his passion for music to the world; Diddy’s appreciation and love for the award ceremony and the music industry spread through the screen into everyone’s living room. – Natalie Simone

Shakira’s Historic Award and Performance

Shakira is the first South American artist to win the Video Vanguard Award at the VMAs.

After 17 years, she reclaimed the audience’s attention by performing a 10-minute set of all her career hits. She completed her set by thanking all the women who made her a better artist and her two sons.

Although many current A-list artists weren’t in attendance, the O.G.’s really made the world stop Tuesday night with palpable passion, dedication, high energy and overall good vibes all of the artists had during the awards ceremony. – Natalie Simone

Taylor Swift Took Home 9 Awards

It’s not truly an awards show until the Queen of Pop takes home an award in all major categories.

Not only did Taylor Swift clearly have a fun time watching the VMA’s (by now, most have seen the video of her dancing to Demi Lovato’s “Cruel for the Summer” performance), but she also swept the awards ceremony.

Swift won nine out of the 11 nominated categories, including Artist of the Year and Video of the Year. She now holds the second most VMA awards of all time, behind Beyoncé.

She is well-known in the VMA community for the 2009 fiasco with Kanye West, where he allegedly made her “famous,” but West was unsurprisingly nowhere in sight to see Swift claim her nine trophies.

With the domination of the Eras Tour, “1989 (Taylor’s Version,)” coming out next month and a filmed Eras Tour coming to AMC Theaters around the world, Taylor Swift is the most influential name in music right now. – Kaitlyn Murphy

Pop Performances Brought Down the Main Stage (Literally)

While the only true pop performer to grace the VMA’s main stage was Olivia Rodrigo, artists Doja Cat and Demi Lovato have dabbled in the genre and put on impressive shows.

Rodrigo’s set sparked internet debate when seemingly premeditated pyrotechnics exploded onstage, startling the singer. A rig also faltered, and a stagehand ran out to escort her offstage.

Anyone who’s seen Rodrigo’s “Vampire” video knows it was a reference to the first post-chorus scene, but casual VMA viewers expressed their concern on X that something actually went wrong with the performance.

Doja Cat put on a cinematic performance alongside backup dancers covered in blood, singing her hit singles “Demon” and “Paint the Town Red.”

By the end, it seemed she was caught up in a whirlwind of swirling papers that matched her chaotic energy in the songs.

Demi Lovato dipped into the rock genre with her medley performance of “Heart Attack,” “Sorry Not Sorry” and “Cool For The Summer.”

Lovato has always been a powerhouse vocalist, and the rock genre allows her to fully embrace the high notes other singers wouldn’t dream of tackling. – Kaitlyn Murphy

Megan Thee Stallion and Justin Timberlake Seemingly Argued Offstage

In a moment captured and quickly spread across X, rapper Megan The Stallion is seen emphatically speaking and pointing at Justin Timberlake as he passes by her backstage.

Pop news accounts quickly labeled the interaction as an argument to gain more views since that’s what it looks like at first glance.

But after some eagle-eyed viewers pointed out the rapper’s lip movements, it appeared that Timberlake introduced himself to her, and she said they needed a more official meeting.

Megan The Stallion later shared a TikTok of the pair talking and laughing, squashing all rumors that they were beefing. – Kaitlyn Murphy

Kaitlyn Murphy is a second-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email kvm62552psu.edu.

Natalie Simone is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email nvs5790@psu.edu.