All the Wildest and Weirdest VMAs Moments That Live Rent-Free in My Brain

1Beyoncé’s Baby Bump (2011)Kristian Dowling//Getty ImagesNot only did this absolute supermom belt out “Love on Top” first, but she danced her butt off before unbuttoning her jacket and revealing her sweet secret.2Lady Gaga’s Bloody Performance (2009)Christopher Polk//Getty ImagesIn a true WTF moment, Lady Gaga violently bled out on stage in an artsy performance of “Paparazzi” that only Lady Gaga could dream up. When the camera cut to Diddy’s confused (and concerned) expression in the audience, he embodied all of us at home.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Britney and Madonna’s Steamy Kiss (2003)Scott Gries//Getty ImagesI'm pretty sure this moment actually stopped time for a bit. Oh, and then the camera just casually panned over to a newly-single Justin Timberlake, who seemed less than thrilled by his ex's actions.4Sabrina’s Extraterrestrial Smooch (2024)Christopher Polk//Getty ImagesSpeaking of steamy kisses: Who can forget when Sabrina Carpenter casually made out with an alien during her performance of “Taste”?Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Kanye’s Presidential Announcement (2015)Kevin Winter/MTV1415//Getty Images“Yes, as you probably could have guessed by this moment, I have decided in 2020 to run for president,” he revealed to the crowd. Ummm, I don't think anybody guessed that, Ye.6Britney’s Scaly Guest (2001)Scott Gries//Getty ImagesI already knew Britney was 10x cooler than everyone else on the planet in 2001, but her ability to keep her composure while holding an actual python proved it.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Travis and Kourtney’s Hard-Launch (2021)Jason Kempin//Getty Images#Kravis made their red carpet debut at the VMAs, jumping right into the excessive PDA we all know and love and expect from them during their very first public appearance.8Drake’s Rejection (2016)Michael Loccisano//Getty ImagesWho could forget when Drake tried—and epically failed—to kiss Rihanna?? Oh, and this was after giving a four-minute speech basically declaring his love for her. She dodged his move faster than you can say the word “Umbrella.”Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Doja’s Blood-Soaked Backup Dancers (2023)Dia Dipasupil//Getty ImagesHi, remember when Doja Cat performed “Paint the Town Red” and “Demons” with a crew of bloody dancers backing her up? Yep, I’m still trying to forget it.10Alyson Stoner and Missy Elliott’s Reunion (2019)Jeff Kravitz//Getty ImagesNearly two decades after the pigtailed 9-year-old famously danced with Missy Elliott in her “Work It” music video, they reunited for a performance in honor of Missy's 2019 Video Vanguard Award and it. Was. Everything.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Kelly Clarkson’s Monsoon (2005)Kevin Kane//Getty ImagesThe wild performance of “Since U Been Gone” took 3,000 gallons of water to pull off and left everyone completely drenched.12Katy and Niall’s Lip Lock (2012)Lester Cohen//Getty ImagesNobody was more shocked—or thrilled—by Katy’s kiss than the One Direction heartthrob himself. “It was amazing and very purple—she had purple lipstick on," he later told Cosmopolitan UK. “I don't think there will ever be anything cooler than kissing her—until I marry her, maybe.”Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Eminem’s Many Lookalikes (2000)Frank Micelotta Archive//Getty ImagesFew things are stranger than seeing 30 different Eminems all together at once, and then 26 years later realizing they all kinda look like a blonde Pete Davidson?! Once you see it, you can't unsee it.14Pete and Ariana’s Public Reveal (2018)Kevin Mazur//Getty ImagesSee?? Pete is literally one buzzcut away from being 2000-era Eminem. The comic had a VMAs moment of his own in 2018, when he made his red carpet debut with Ariana. It was literally all anybody could talk about.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Kanye’s Rude Interruption (2009)Christopher Polk//Getty ImagesIn true, unscripted fashion, Kanye ruined 19-year-old Taylor's shining moment on live TV. It's fine though, because it resulted in “Look What You Made Me Do” (and all of Reputation, really) nearly a decade later.16Kanye and Taylor’s Temporary Truce (2015)Kevin Winter/MTV1415//Getty ImagesThese two break up and make up more than Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson. In 2015, they famously hugged it out on stage after she presented the rapper with his Video Vanguard Award. As we all know, though, their truce didn't last very long.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Eva Longoria’s Ill-Timed Swimsuit Joke (2005)Kevin Kane//Getty ImagesIn one of the worst-aging jokes of all time, the actress went on stage and said: “I wasn't going to let a little hurricane stop me from wearing my bathing suit.” That little hurricane turned out to be Hurricane Katrina. Of course, she didn't know that at the time, but prepare to cringe watching this one back.18Cardi B’s Baby Fakeout (2019)Theo Wargo//Getty ImagesTag yourself: I'm the guy adoringly watching and fully believing that Cardi B brought her baby daughter to the VMAs. As we all know, her bundle of joy actually turned out to be an award.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Lorde’s Interpretive Dance (2017)Christopher Polk/MTV1617//Getty ImagesDoes the show always have to go on? After Lorde became severely sick with the flu, she chose to skip the singing and dance around the stage during her performance instead. Although it's kinda awkward to watch and left most of the audience confused, serious props to her for going through with it.20Olivia’s Faux Stage Malfunction (2023)TIMOTHY A. CLARY//Getty ImagesWhile performing “Vampire” and “Get Him Back!” at the 2023 show, Olivia Rodrigo’s performance seemingly went awry when the pyrotechnics appeared to malfunction...but as it turns out, that was all planned. Selena Gomez’s confused reaction in the audience = all of us that night.