{"id":8723,"date":"2025-09-07T23:56:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T23:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/8723\/"},"modified":"2025-09-07T23:56:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T23:56:14","slug":"most-memorable-mtv-vma-moments-since-the-first-show-in-1984","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/8723\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Memorable MTV VMA Moments Since the First Show in 1984"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tSince the MTV <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/tags\/vmas\/\">Video Music Awards<\/a> began in 1984, viewers could always count on one thing: <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/entertainment\/articles\/2133862\/britney-spears-shocking-moments-since-2000\/\">someone would do something shocking<\/a> and totally memorable at some point during the ceremony. The best part is you never know exactly who or what is going to pop off. Will the best moment be an incredible performance? Will it be someone getting into a fight? Will there be blood involved? Will the players still have a career afterward? A marriage?<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe VMAs are always surprising, and they\u2019ve been shocking music fans for years. IIn honor of the 2025 VMAs happening tonight, we\u2019ve rounded up some of <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/entertainment\/articles\/2341664\/mtv-vma-awards-worst-dressed-celebrities\/\">the most memorable moments in VMA history<\/a> since the show began.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/parenting\/articles\/2342417\/katy-perry-postpartum-body-vmas\/\" class=\"lrv-u-flex@tablet\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/katy-perry.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/katy-perry.jpg\" alt=\"Katy Perry\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"\" width=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\tRelated story<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tVMAs Katy Perry in a Pumping Bra is Perhaps Her Best Look Yet\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t1984: Madonna humps the stage in her VMA debut\t<\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Madonna - Like A Virgin (Live MTV VMAs 1984)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gkSxhG4cbPo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIn retrospect, this is nothing compared to <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/tags\/madonna\/\">Madonna\u2019s<\/a> later performances, but, at the time, at the very first MTV VMAs in 1984, Madonna dry humping the stage in front of every music exec in the industry, being beamed into the living rooms of every Middle American TV set, was shocking \u2014 and it definitely set the tone for what kind of show the VMAs wanted to be.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t1991: Prince demonstrates all 23 positions in a one-night stand\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2234430.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2234430.jpg\" alt=\"Prince performs at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards Held in Los Angeles, CA on September 5, 1991. Photo by Frank Micelotta\/Getty Images\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"656\" width=\"1024\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tPrince performs at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards Held in Los Angeles, CA on September 5, 1991.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrank Micelotta\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tPerforming his song \u201cGet Off\u201d from the Diamonds and Pearls album, <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/tags\/prince-1\/\" target=\"_blank\">Prince<\/a> pretty much staged an orgy for VMA viewers. But with all the simulated sex going on around the stage, no one could take their eyes off Prince himself, both because of his incredible dance moves and (probably mostly) because his butt was literally hanging out of his pants thanks to an artfully-placed cutout.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t1993: RuPaul drags Milton Berle for filth\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-156085361.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-156085361.jpg\" alt=\"Performer RuPaul attends the 10th Annual MTV Video Music Awards on September 2, 1993 at Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd.\/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"1024\" width=\"723\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tPerformer RuPaul attends the 10th Annual MTV Video Music Awards on September 2, 1993, at Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRon Galella, Ltd.\/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tRuPaul and Milton Berle were paired together because RuPaul is a drag queen and Berle used to do comedy in drag \u2014 and that\u2019s where their similarities end. RuPaul started their bit by going totally off-book and insulting Berle by saying the legend now wears diapers. What the audience didn\u2019t know, and RuPaul revealed in her book, is that Berle allegedly groped her butt and breasts backstage.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t1994: Michael Jackson &amp; Lisa Marie Presley gross everyone out\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-102678719.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-102678719.jpg\" alt=\"US pop star Michael Jackson and his wife Lisa Marie Presley kiss on the stage of Radio City Music Hall 8 September 1994 in New York where they attended the MTV Video Music Awards. (Photo credit should read -\/AFP via Getty Images)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"1024\" width=\"620\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tMichael Jackson and his wife Lisa Marie Presley kiss on the stage of Radio City Music Hall on September 8, 1994, in New York where they attended the MTV Video Music Awards.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe marriage of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/entertainment\/slideshow\/2482443\/celebrities-you-forgot-dated\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley<\/a> seemed like little more than a publicity stunt to the cynical public, and this super-awkward kiss at the 1994 VMAs did little to convince us otherwise. The pair divorced two years later.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t1997: Fiona Apple explains, \u2018This world is bullshit\u2019\t<\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Fiona Apple&#039;s Acceptance Speech at the 1997 Video Music Awards | MTV\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/42gNkySFycA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tWhen <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/tags\/fiona-apple\/\">Fiona Apple<\/a> won Best New Artist for her beautiful and moody album Tidal, the then-teen gave a super-emo acceptance speech that sounded totally petulant at the time, biting the hands that fed her \u2014 but now, more than 20 years later, sounds 100 percent accurate.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t1999: Diana Ross cops a feel\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2221739.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2221739.jpg\" alt=\"Mary J. Blige( left), Lil' Kim (right), and Diana Ross presenting the award for Best Hip-Hop video during the 1999 MTV Music Video Awards at the Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center in New York City on September 9, 1999. (Photo by Frank Micelotta\/ImageDirect)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"682\" width=\"1024\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tMary J. Blige, Lil\u2019 Kim, and Diana Ross present the award for Best Hip-Hop Video during the 1999 MTV Music Video Awards in New York City on September 9, 1999.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrank Micelotta\/ImageDirect<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tLil\u2019 Kim thought she was being cute wearing a jumpsuit that allowed one of her girls to hang loose, nipple covered by a pasty only to appease the FCC. She probably wasn\u2019t counting on getting felt up by icon Diana Ross. Mary J. Blige was also caught in the middle of the interaction.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2000: Britney Spears strips on live TV\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2407160.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2407160.jpg\" alt=\"American pop singer Britney Spears performs at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, September 7, 2000. (Photo by Dave Hogan\/Getty Images)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"1024\" width=\"683\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/tags\/britney-spears\/\" id=\"auto-tag_britney-spears\" data-tag=\"britney-spears\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Britney Spears<\/a> performs at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, September 7, 2000.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDave Hogan\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tBritney Spears completely outgrew her good-girl persona with a single, incredibly sexy performance in which she stripped off a black business suit to reveal a sparkly, transparent bodysuit, making her appear nearly nude. The mashup of \u201cSatisfaction\u201d by the Rolling Stones with a remixed \u201cOops! I Did It Again\u201d signaled a new era for Brit-Brit. Not that innocent, indeed.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2002: Michael Jackson accepts a nonexistent award\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2290008.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2290008.jpg\" alt=\"Britney Spears and Michael Jackson on stage at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, August 29, 2002. Photo by Scott Gries\/ImageDirect.\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"685\" width=\"1024\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tBritney Spears and Michael Jackson on stage at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, August 29, 2002.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScott Gries\/ImageDirect<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tWhat was supposed to be a simple acknowledgment of the King of Pop\u2019s birthday went sideways when Michael Jackson misinterpreted Britney Spears\u2019 intro calling him the \u201cArtist of the Millennium\u201d as receiving an Artist of the Millennium award, which doesn\u2019t actually exist. His confusing \u201cacceptance speech\u201d left the audience briefly befuddled, but they gave him a standing ovation anyway.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2003: Madonna kisses Britney Spears &amp; Christina Aguilera\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-104892166.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-104892166.jpg\" alt=\"Britney Spears and Madonna during 2003 MTV Video Music Awards - Show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Chris Polk\/FilmMagic)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"723\" width=\"1024\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tBritney Spears and Madonna during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards \u2013 Show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, United States.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChris Polk\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tMadonna shocked us all when she made out with both Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera during their joint 2003 VMAs performance. The best part? Perhaps seeing Justin Timberlake\u2019s stone-cold expression watching Madonna move in on his ex-girlfriend.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2007: Britney Spears\u2019 depressing \u201ccomeback\u201d\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-76681060.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-76681060.jpg\" alt=\"LAS VEGAS - SEPTEMBER 9:  Singer Britney Spears performs at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Casino Resort on September 9, 2007 in LasVegas, Nevada.  (Photo by Jeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"1024\" width=\"680\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tBritney Spears performs at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Casino Resort on September 9, 2007, in Las Vegas, Nevada.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t2007 was not a good year for Britney Spears \u2014 see the intrusive, pervasive tabloid coverage of the star, chronicled in\u00a0Framing Britney Spears. But her performance at the 2007 VMAs was supposed to prove she was still the pop princess fans fell in love with in the early aughts. Sadly, it did the exact opposite. Spears was a shadow of her former self: confused, unprepared, and disheveled. This was also<a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/entertainment\/articles\/2479059\/britney-spears-father-jamie-steps-down-conservatorship\/\"> in the time leading up to her conservatorship<\/a>, which we now know has had an indelible impact on the singer.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2009: Lady Gaga is left hanging\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-90718700.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-90718700.jpg\" alt=\"NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13:  Singer Lady Gaga onstage during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 2009 in New York City.  (Photo by Kevin Mazur\/WireImage)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"1024\" width=\"660\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tLady Gaga onstage during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 2009 in New York City.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKevin Mazur\/WireImage<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tTaking performance art to a whole new level, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/tags\/lady-gaga\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Lady Gaga<\/a> demonstrated how fame will eventually kill all celebs, either literally or figuratively, when she finished her performance of \u201cPaparazzi\u201d by hanging herself, face covered in blood.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2009: Kanye West with the worst interruption of all time\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-90713562.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-90713562.jpg\" alt=\"NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13:  Kanye West (L) jumps onstage after Taylor Swift (C) won the \" best=\"\" female=\"\" video=\"\" award=\"\" during=\"\" the=\"\" mtv=\"\" music=\"\" awards=\"\" at=\"\" radio=\"\" city=\"\" hall=\"\" on=\"\" september=\"\" in=\"\" new=\"\" york=\"\" city.=\"\" by=\"\" jeff=\"\" kravitz=\"\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"746\" width=\"1024\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tKanye West jumps onstage after Taylor Swift won the \u201cBest Female Video\u201d award during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 2009 in New York City.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJeff Kravitz\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tCompletely unsatisfied that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/tags\/taylor-swift\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Taylor Swift<\/a> won over Beyonc\u00e9 for Best Female Video,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/tags\/kanye-west\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"> Kanye West<\/a> interrupted Swift\u2019s acceptance speech to voice his displeasure and unleashed a feud that has gone on for more than a decade.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2011: Beyonc\u00e9 reveals her baby bump\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-132320036.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-132320036.jpg\" alt=\"LOS ANGELES, CA - August 28: Beyonce performs onstage at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on August 28, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Kristian Dowling\/Getty Images)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"778\" width=\"1024\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tBeyonc\u00e9 performs onstage at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on August 28, 2011, in Los Angeles, CA.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKristian Dowling\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tBlue Ivy\u2019s award show debut came in 2011 when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/tags\/beyonce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Beyonc\u00e9<\/a> announced her pregnancy in the most public of ways: by whipping open her jacket at the end of her performance of \u201cLove on Top\u201d and declaring, \u201cI want you to feel the love growing inside of me!\u201d while rubbing her baby bump.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2013: Miley Cyrus ends Robin Thicke\u2019s career\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-177927670.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-177927670.jpg\" alt=\"NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 25:  Robin Thicke and Miley Cyrus perform during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center on August 25, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.  (Photo by Michael Loccisano\/FilmMagic)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"817\" width=\"1024\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tRobin Thicke and Miley Cyrus perform during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center on August 25, 2013, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMichael Loccisano\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tFormer twerk queen Miley Cyrus danced all over Robin Thicke during their \u201cWe Can\u2019t Stop\u201d\/\u201dBlurred Lines\u201d mashup and totally abused that poor foam finger. While Cyrus took a ton of heat for the performance, Thicke tried to distance himself from it and managed to come off far more sexist than his song.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2015: Justin Bieber gets incredibly emotional after his performance\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-486012392.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-486012392.jpg\" alt=\"LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30:  Recording artist Justin Bieber performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Kevin Winter\/MTV1415\/Getty Images For MTV)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"781\" width=\"1024\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tJustin Bieber performs onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKevin Winter\/MTV1415\/Getty Images For MTV<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tJustin Bieber became noticeably emotional following his performance of \u201cWhat Do You Mean\u201d back in the 2015 VMA. It was a major return for the young pop star, who has since disclosed his struggles with fame at such a young age. \u201cIt was just so overwhelming for me,\u201d Bieber later shared with Jimmy Fallon on\u00a0The Tonight Show. \u201cI just wasn\u2019t expecting them to support me in the way they did,\u201d Bieber said of the audience.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2015: \u201cMiley, what good?\u201d\t<\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"UNCENSORED: Miley Cyrus Reacts to Nicki Minaj Calling Her Out at the 2015 VMAs | MTV News\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IrVx6vSUfS4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAfter winning the Best Hip-Hop VMA, rapper Nicki Minaj had a little message for host Miley Cyrus. Displeased by what Cyrus had said in an interview, regarding Minaj and Taylor Swift\u2019s past public feud, the \u201cAnaconda\u201d rapper finished her speech by saying, \u201cBack to this b\u2013 that had a lot to say about me the other day in the press; Miley, what\u2019s good?\u201d A memorable moment, to say the least.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2016: Drake basically admits he\u2019s been in love with Rihanna\t<\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Drake Presents Rihanna w\/ Vanguard Award | 2016 Video Music Awards | MTV\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HGcc3LyANtA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAt the 2016 MTV VMAs, Drake presented the Vanguard Award to Rihanna, a longtime collaborator. During his speech, which you can watch above, Drake let slip that Rihanna is \u201csomeone I\u2019ve been in love with since I was 22 years old.\u201d Naturally, fans screamed and cheered at the admission, while Rihanna was seen slightly rolling her eyes. Upon handing over the award to the multi-hyphenate talent, Drake seemingly went in for a kiss while Rihanna swerved.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2018: Cardi B walked on stage with her \u201cbaby\u201d\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1020400574.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1020400574.jpg\" alt=\"NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 20:  Cardi B speaks onstage during the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 20, 2018 in New York City.  (Photo by Theo Wargo\/Getty Images)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"1024\" width=\"682\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tCardi B speaks onstage during the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 20, 2018 in New York City.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTheo Wargo\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tCardi B is a rapper who\u2019s definitely into theatrics. But when it comes to actually bringing her newborn baby onto the MTV VMAs stage, she decided to get a little cheeky. Cardi gave birth to daughter Kulture, whom she shares with ex-husband Offset, in July 2018 \u2014 just months before the MTV VMAs. When it came time for her to open the show, she decided to get a little playful, bringing a fake baby on stage with her. It definitely caught some people off-guard, until it was clear that Cardi did not, in fact, have Kulture in her arms.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2019: Missy Elliot\u2019s Video Vanguard Award\t<\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Missy Elliott Accepts the 2019 Video Vanguard Award | 2019 Video Music Awards\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tXzGnMErzqc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tMissy Elliot\u2019s towering career deserves all the praise, and at the 2019 MTV VMAs, she earned it. The artist received the Video Vanguard Award and shared in her speech how monumental the moment was. \u201cThis Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award means so much to me. I have worked diligently for over two decades and I never thought that I would be standing up here receiving this award,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t2020: The Black Eyed Peas perform\u2026without Fergie\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1269758223.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-1269758223.jpg\" alt=\"NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 30: (L-R) apl.de.ap, will.i.am, and Taboo attend the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, broadcast on Sunday, August 30, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Fury\/MTV VMAs 2020\/Getty Images for MTV)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"683\" width=\"1024\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tapl.de.ap, will.i.am, and Taboo attend the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, broadcast on Sunday, August 30, 2020, in New York City.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRich Fury\/MTV VMAs 2020\/Getty Images for MTV<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe Black Eyed Peas\u2019 2020 MTV VMAs performance definitely lit up the show \u2014 literally. But while the three remaining members \u2014 will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo \u2014 gave fans a lot of nostalgia with the performance of their 2009 hit \u201cI Got A Feeling,\u201d Fergie\u2019s absence was definitely felt, and it wasn\u2019t long before she was trending on Twitter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t2024: Sabrina Carpenter makes out with an alien<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2170709849.jpg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2170709849.jpg\" alt=\"Sabrina Carpenter at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards held at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Christopher Polk\/Billboard via Getty Images)\" data-lazy- data-lazy- height=\"683\" width=\"1024\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tSabrina Carpenter at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards held at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Christopher Polk\/Billboard via Getty Images)<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBillboard via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIn 2024, Sabrina Carpenter did a performance of her hit song \u201cEspresso,\u201d and at the beginning of the performance, she made out with a backup dancer in an alien costume.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tA version of this story was previously published in 2017.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Before you go, click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/entertainment\/articles\/2341664\/mtv-vma-awards-worst-dressed-celebrities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">here<\/a>\u00a0to see the most over-the-top VMAs looks in MTV history.<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/entertainment\/articles\/2341664\/mtv-vma-awards-worst-dressed-celebrities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2342325 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/over-the-top-vmas.jpg\" alt=\"Lady Gaga\" width=\"693\" height=\"390\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Since the MTV Video Music Awards began in 1984, viewers could always count on one thing: someone would&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8724,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[1936,156,1385,157,111,139,69,10781],"class_list":{"0":"post-8723","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-music","8":"tag-britney-spears","9":"tag-entertainment","10":"tag-madonna","11":"tag-music","12":"tag-new-zealand","13":"tag-newzealand","14":"tag-nz","15":"tag-vmas"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8723"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8723\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}