18 Must-See Moments From the 2023 VMAs

The MTV Video Music Awards marks the night where music's top names and fashion wild-cards collide in a whirlwind of beats and threads that'll leave you shooketh. And this year didn’t disappoint. There were epic performances, jaw-dropping fashion statements, and those unforgettable "Did that really just happen!?" moments. It's all part of the VMAs charm, after all!

Here's a rundown of the evening's most unforgettable highlights.

The Best, Worst, and Most Bonkers Moments from the VMAs

Doja Cat’s wears a spooOOOOooky-sexy pink-carpet outfit

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Are your spidey-senses tingling? Our creepy queen Doja Cat walked the pink carpet dressed as the spookiest house in the neighborhood, and we’re all ready to get caught up in her spiderwebs. J’adore this macrame scream queen.

NSYNC reunites!

NSYNC reunion rumors have been swirling for quite some time now, so when the former boy-band took the stage early in the evening, every millennial in the world both swooned and screamed. (The reunion held sentimental value as it marked a decade since the group's last performance at the 2013 VMAs, where they reunited to honor Justin Timberlake with the Video Vanguard Award.)

So what happened? The guys presented the award for Best Pop Video to Taylor Swift and she was ecstatic. "I'm not doing well pivoting from this to this," Swift said on stage while accepting the award. "I had your dolls. Are you doing something? What's going to happen now? [To the audience] They're going to do something and I need to know what it is. [To the guys] You're pop personified to receive this from your golden pop hands is really it's too much."

Related: Parsing All the NSYNC Reunion Rumors

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion perform 'Bongos'

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion took the stage for a tropical-inspired performance of their latest hit, "Bongos." Coming off "WAP," is there anything these two world-class angels can’t do!? Give them some sequins, a lot of tassels and a sick beat, and you’re gonna have some real hot girl sh*t. Bongos, bongos, bongos!

Demi Lovato goes rock n’ roll

Demi Lovato has been getting back to her pop-rock vibe lately, and at the VMAs, she came to win, belting out rock versions of her top three hits, "Heart Attack," "Sorry Not Sorry" and "Cool for the Summer." The crowd absolutely lost it. In fact, during “Cool for the Summer,” the camera cut to Taylor Swift in the audience, and she knew every word perfectly!

What's even more exciting is that all three of these tracks will be part of Lovato's upcoming album "Revamped," which will include 10 rock renditions of her classic songs. Step aside, Axl Rose! Watch your back, Aerosmith! Get outta town, The Rolling Stones! Just kidding! It’s not a competition and we welcome every last bit of rock and roll.

Related: 100 Best Rock Bands of All Time

Stray Kids win for Best K-Pop

Stray Kids clinched the Best K-Pop award for their single "S-Class," which the South Korean boy band—featuring Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin and I.N.—also performed at this year's event.

“We’ve been making music ever since the start of our career, but to receive this award just really means a lot to us,” Bang Chan said of their first VMA win.

Olivia Rodrigo’s set crumbles behind her–on purpose!

It's been two years since Olivia Rodrigo wowed us with her VMAs debut, and tonight she took the stage in a red two-piece to sing "Get Him Back" and "Vampire."

At the end of the latter song, the scenery around her began to all fall down and there was a momentary audience freak out while Olivia was ushered off the stage—until everyone realized that, duh, Olivia is DRAMATIC and she always brings 150 percent to everything she does. It was all planned, babe! Theater kids FOR LIFE, honey!

Related: Why Olivia Rodrigo Was Rushed Off Stage During MTV VMAs Performance

'Anti-Hero' wins Song of the Year

It’s her, hi, she’s the winner, it’s TAYLOR. Welp, no surprise here: Taylor’s second award of the night was for Song of the Year.

In her acceptance speech, Taylor expressed gratitude to her producer, Jack Antonoff, and fondly acknowledged their initial collaboration on 1989, before adding, "We'll be making music together until 2089."

She also talked about how the song-writing experience can feel isolating and lonely, but that going on tour and hearing people sing along to her music, “brings [her] to this very relaxing feeling that maybe we all have the issues.”

French Montana announces a fund for Morocco

The Moroccan-American musician said he'll be creating an emergency fund for victims of the earthquake in Morocco, where more than 2,900 were killed last weekend.

"Before we get to the nominees, I want to spread some love and light to Morocco. They’ve been hit with a big earthquake," he said. "I’m setting up our emergency fund with globalcitizen.org/morocco and I will be donating myself."

SHAKIRA DANCE PARTY!!!

The Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist (YES, SHE DOES IT ALL!) came onto the stage and the CROWD WENT WILD. In a transcendent 10-MINUTE performance, our queen gave us more than a few hip shakes (because those hips don’t lie, after all!) and all the hits from “Whenever, Wherever” to “She Wolf.”

Some people on social media were wondering—is she lip-syncing? And honestly … who cares? She gave the most earth-shattering performance of the evening and I’m gonna show it to my grandkids on my deathbed.

Shakira then took home the “Video Vanguard” award, which is given to artists in recognition of their significant impact on the music video and pop-culture landscape (she is the first South American and the second Latina—after Jennifer Lopez—to win). Other former winners include Beyoncé in 2014, Rihanna in 2016, and our somewhat absentee hostess (see below) herself, Nicki Minaj, in 2022.

Related: Find Out Shakira's Net Worth in 2023

Nicki Minaj? More like Nicki MIA-NAJ?

Our hostess with the mostess barely graced the stage for the first half of the show. She was glorious when she was out there but we saw so little of her! Come back, Nicki! We miss you!

Thankfully, we got a little more of her when she blew the house down singing “Last Time I Saw You” (and teased a new song!!) later in the show.

Anitta wins best Latin and says the perfect sentence

Anitta, an incredibly popular Brazilian artist, emerged victorious over Shakira, Bad Bunny, and Karol G to claim the Best Latin award.

"I want to thank myself because I work so hard oh my god," she said. Which is, honestly, the perfect sentence. Kudos!

Taylor has some trouble getting her cup out of the holder

Presented without comment:

Taylor and Selena are still the besties of your dreams

Also presented without comment:

Diddy performs on the VMAs stage for first time in 18 years

Sean "Diddy" Combs took the stage to deliver a tour de force performance of his hits, including "I'll Be Missing You," an absolute bop then and an absolute bop now. He also performed "I Need a Girl Pt 2." and "Bad Boy For Life," and brought out Keyshia Cole to perform "Last Night." Heaven!

Then, Chance, one of his daughters, introduced Diddy as he received his global icon award. “This is a dream come true,” he said on stage. “I grew up watching MTV like ‘Man I wish I could be up there.’

Related: Who Calls Diddy Daddy? All About Sean Combs' Kids

He also got the crowd to do a “Bad Boy” chant, which was amazing, and then said it was “truly a gift from God… to get to do what you love for 30 years consistently.” He wrapped the whole thing up by promoting his new The Love Album: Off the Grid, which is out on Friday, Sept. 15. A++++ performance and speech!

Megan Thee Stallion and Justin Timberlake have a fight that never was

Either prior to or following her AMAZING performance alongside Cardi B for their latest single "Bongos," a snippet from MTV's backstage live feed captured a moment where Megan Thee Stallion appeared to be engaged in a heated exchange with Justin Timberlake, who was with his NSYNC bandmates.

In the clip, Timberlake passed Megan and leaned in to talk to her, and it appeared Megan responded by pointing her finger at him, then turning away, looking annoyed.

However, individuals with knowledge of the situation refuted any notion of a negative exchange. A source told Entertainment Tonight that Timberlake greeted Megan, "It's so nice to meet you," to which she responded, "No, no, this doesn't count; we need a proper introduction."

See? Everything’s fine! Nothing to see here except two soon-to-be besties saying hello!

Ice Spice wins Best New Artist

Ice Spice soared to stardom after her viral 2022 hit "Munch." Hailing from the Bronx, she recently collaborated with Taylor Swift and hung out with the Anti-Hero all night at the awards show.

“I just want to thank my munchkins,” she said in her acceptance speech. “I love you guys so much.” She also thanked her manager, label, producer and God.

Related: How Ice Spice Got Her Start and How Much Money She's Worth Today

The VMAs celebrates 50 Years of hip hop

The celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary was a glorious party. It brought the crowd back to life during what can only generously be described as a VERY VERY long-as-hell award show.

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five kicked it off with "The Message,” and many other industry icons joined in, including DMC, LL Cool J (Mama Said Knock You Out!), Lil Wayne and the Doug E. Fresh. Even our hostess Nicki Minaj got in on the action, rapping to "Itty Bitty Piggy" with the enthusiastic help of the audience.

'Anti-Hero' wins Video of the Year—and then the show just cut out!

Taylor cinched the most prestigious award of the night to add to her already enormous pile of trophies. “This is unbelievable,” she said while accepting the award. “I just want to say that the fact that this is a fan-voted award means so much to me. “

Then, although were several categories to still be awarded, the show just went away after being on the air for four dang hours. I guess that’s a wrap! Goodnight!

Next, See the Full List of 2023 VMAs Winners