The Most Shocking Moments You Missed From the 2023 VMAs

Music history was made at tonight’s 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, with Shakira honored with the Video Vanguard Award, Taylor Swift sweeping the competition with nine wins, and *NSYNC reuniting in a nostalgic onstage moment. But there was also a lot going on backstage.

Ahead, the biggest moments you may have missed from the glamorous night.

When Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift reunited

The besties were photographed chatting and hugging backstage, and Gomez later congratulated Swift after one of the “Cruel Summer” singer’s multiple acceptance speeches.

Shakira crowdsurfed

During her spectacular performance, Shakira dove into the crowd and simply lounged while continuing to sing.

Taylor Swift absolutely vibing to Shakira

We couldn’t handle Shakira’s iconic performance of her biggest hits, and neither could Tay Tay.

Still vibing

*NSYNC reunited

The iconic boy band—composed of Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, and Chris Kirkpatrick—reunited onstage to present a VMA Moon Person. The award went to fellow global superstar Swift—who gushed about being a huge (huge!) *NSYNC fan.

Read her reaction here

“I had your dolls,” Swift told the group after winning the Best Pop VMA for “Anti-Hero.” “You’re pop personified, so to receive this from your golden pop hands is really too much.”

Olivia Rodrigo had a Y2K outfit change before her set literally fell apart

The “Vampire” singer changed out of her glamorous sparkly silver gown and into a red Y2K skirt-and-bra set by Sandy Liang to perform at the award show. Her backup singers matched her in Barbie-pink sets.

During the performance, the stage seemingly fell apart (Gomez looked horrified, according to fans’ screenshots), but it turned out it was all planned and part of the performance.

Shakira matched with her sons

The superstar, who was honored with this year’s coveted Video Vanguard Award, brought her sons, Milan, 10, and Sasha, eight, as her dates for the night. All three adorably matched in Versace, with Shakira wearing a backless golden sequin gown (before changing into two more incredible looks), and her boys staying comfy in black-and-yellow sweatsuits.

The boys supported their mom all night

Sabrina Carpenter improv'd

During the VMAs preshow, Sabrina Carpenter performed her hits “Nonsense” and “Feather,” and even improv’d a VMAs-themed outro: “He said that it’s bigger than a Moonman / Guess that means I’m gripping it with two hands / VMAs, I love you / I’m a huge fan.”

Cardi B swung on a crystal ball

During her performance, the rapper lounged atop a crystal chandelier ball, wrapping her legs around the pole. A sight to see.

When Ice Spice and Taylor Swift grabbed drinks

All that dancing had them parched.

Megan Thee Stallion and Justin Timberlake met

Fans speculated that the rapper and the *NSYNC member had gotten into a disagreement, after a backstage video showed the two (inaudibly) talking passionately and Megan raising her finger at Timberlake. However, there is no beef between the stars. A backstage eyewitness told Variety there was “zero fight.”

“He said, ‘It’s so nice to meet you,’ and she said, ‘No, no this don’t count, this don’t count. We gotta meet proper.’ It was very cute,” the insider explained.

Taylor Swift won everything

Swift went into the night with 11 nominations—the most of the night—and left with nine wins, making her the second-most-awarded artist in the show’s history (after, naturally, Beyoncé). She also came in second for most wins in one night. (Peter Gabriel had 10 in 1987.) These wins were Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop, Video of the Year, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects—all for “Anti Hero.” She also won Album of the Year for Midnights and Show of the Summer for her Eras Tour.

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