The Best, Worst, and Most Surprising Moments of the 2024 MTV VMAs

After adjusting its air date to make room for the presidential debate on Tuesday, the MTV Video Music Awards took place tonight live from UBS Arena in New York—its first time at that particular venue after spending the last two years at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

Hosted by Megan Thee Stallion, the VMAs celebrated its 40th(!) anniversary with performances and appearances from a cast of celebrities, many of whom are closely intertwined with MTV's pop-culture history, from show opener Eminem to Video Vanguard winner Katy Perry, presenter and onetime Total Request Live VJ Carson Daly, and fellow presenter Cyndi Lauper, who won the first-ever Moonman for Best Female Video in 1984. Even Lenny Kravitz performed at the VMAs for the first time in 25 years.

The VMAs likewise rolled out the carpet for newcomers, such as Best New Artist nominees and first-time performers Chappell Roan and Benson Boone, six-time nominee Sabrina Carpenter (also performing for the first time), and the recently solo BLACKPINK K-pop singer LISA.

Meanwhile, VMAs legend Taylor Swift led the night with 10 nominations, including Video of the Year for "Fortnight" with Post Malone. No stranger to making VMAs history, Swift won Video of the Year in 2022 and 2023, for "Anti-Hero" and "All Too Well: The Short Film," respectively. Swift ended up winning the top prize of the night yet again, in addition to Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Pop, Best Direction, and Best Editing. She also became the most awarded artist in VMAs history, besting Beyoncé.

Here are the best, worst, and most dramatic moments from the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.

Most Underwhelming Entrance: Eminem

Eminem is an indelible part of MTV's history, sure. But his opening performance of "Houdini"— kicked off with dozens of fake Shadys running up onstage, a callback to his 2000 performance—and "Somebody Save Me" with JellyRoll—intercut with home movies of Em's kids—was a snore. A schmaltzy snore.

Most Adorably Speechless: Post Malone

Winning the first award of the night for Best Collaboration ("Fortnight"), Taylor Swift and Post Malone walked onstage together as seasoned VMAs champions. After Swift paid tribute to the victims of 9/11, she joked about how Post Malone couldn't stop calling her "ma'am" as they worked together. Then, she passed the mic to Posty, who had to take a full pause as he searched for words to describe working with Swift. The VMAs don't have too many off-script, truly genuine moments anymore, but this was a sweet and wholesome way to get the night going.

Most Effortlessly Fun: Karol G

Just one year after making her VMAs debut, Karol G came back to remind everyone why she's such a masterful performer. Singing her merengue new single “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido," the Colombian pop singer made her set an interactive one by dancing all over the venue—that included shaking it with Taylor Swift, Post Malone, and Camilla Cabello.

Most Smoke Inhalation: Shawn Mendes

In a move that felt determined to prove he can be a rock star, too, Shawn Mendes rolled out a few stage rugs, an acoustic guitar, and some really, really overzealous backing band members to debut a live version of “Isn’t That Enough” (from his forthcoming album Shawn). With plumes of smoke billowing out behind him, Mendes tried his very best to channel actual soulful, sexy crooners like Prince—but ended up barely hanging onto the high notes.

Most Missed No-Show: Britney Spears

Given everything she's endured, it was unlikely that Britney Spears would actually attend the VMAs, even for the show's 40th anniversary. But that didn't stop multiple singers from paying tribute to her historic VMAs outfits (Addison Rae, Tate McRae, host Megan Thee Stallion wearing a snake) and her Y2K-era performances, with Sabrina Carpenter including multiple references to Spears in her VMAs performance and Halsey shouting her out on the red carpet. Spears might never attend another award show (as is her right; protect that mental health), but her performances of "I'm A Slave 4 U" and “Oops!...I Did It Again” live on.

Most Out Of This World: Sabrina Carpenter

Left Shark, who? It's all about Left Alien now. Sabrina Carpenter made an instant-classic VMAs debut with a medley performance of Short n’ Sweet singles "Please Please Please," "Taste," and "Espresso," which, in a meta move, appeared to reference the award show's trophy (the Moon Man, since renamed the Moon Person in 2017). Carpenter floated down into a sea of dancers dressed as astronauts and even recalled her "Taste" video by making out with one very lucky blue alien.

Most Mid Video Vanguard: Katy Perry

Katy Perry has been in something of a PR nightmare ever since she released a snippet of the since maligned "Woman's World" earlier this summer, partially for its cringe, 2016-girlboss-era lyrics (which she later somewhat dubiously explained were meant to be satire) and even more for the fact that it was produced by Dr. Luke, whom Kesha accused of being "sexually, physically, verbally and emotionally" abusive in 2014. (They reached a settlement in 2023.) The remainder of the rollout for her forthcoming album, 143, hasn't gone much better. If you were hoping that Perry would bring some of the colorful world-building she founded her career on to her Video Vanguard medley performance, you'd end up disappointed, as the entire segment was relatively one-note, with hardly any costume changes (save for when Perry threw on a pair of metallic butterfly wings), set switch-ups, or creativity other than "beige corset top" and "outer space theme."

After a combination of well-delivered, full-throated songs like "E.T.," new single "I'm His, He's Mine" with a scene-stealing doechii, "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Firework," and problematic fave "I Kissed A Girl," Perry gave a semi-loaded thank you speech that seemed to jab back at critics. “There are so many things that have to align to have a long and successful career as an artist. There are no decade-long accidents." True, but some of the shade must have sunken in, as there was nary a mention of "Woman's World."

Most Gen Z Freddie Mercury: Benson Boone

For his debut VMAs set, the mustachioed 22-year-old singer let his vocals, costuming, and gymnastics take center stage. Performing "Beautiful Things," Boone evoked '70s sequined extravagance in a deep-cut, shimmery blue number. Look out, he's coming for your crown, Harry Styles.

Shiniest Armor: Chappell Roan

After getting into it with a red-carpet photographer (reminder to fans: pop stars are allowed to set boundaries), Chappell Roan gave an inspired, Medieval-themed performance of her mega-hit "Good Luck, Babe!" Against a wall of pyrotechnics, the Best New Artist-nominated singer wore a full suit of armor and danced alongside a group of knights, bringing to mind the 1971 Disney classic Bedknobs And Broomsticks. It also sounds very, very sweaty. Roan later won the Moon Person for Best New Artist and gave a sincere acceptance speech shouting out the LGBTQIA+ community: “And for all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now: I see you, I understand you, because I am one of you.”

Most Authentic Call For Diversity: Tyla 

When South African singer Tyla won the Best Afrobeats Moon Person for "Water,” she helpfully reminded audiences—and MTV gatekeepers—that the genre is not just a catch-all for music marketing purposes. (Hey, Grammys, are you taking notes?) "I know there's a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats," Tyla said in her acceptance speech, which came off as a heartfelt attempt to educate the crowd and viewers at home. "It's a thing, and even though Afrobeats has run things and has opened so many doors for us, African music is so diverse. It's more than just Afrobeats." She proceeded to name-drop many of her fellow nominees, including Tems, Ayra Starr, and Burna Boy.

Best Garage Band: Halsey 

In an overtly Avril-coded set, Halsey rocked the VMAs like it was 2003 and we never stopped wearing neckties as belts. Debuting her new song "Ego," Halsey broke out her electric guitar, extremely high-top Chucks, and live backing band. Rounding out the picture? A set created to look like a suburban two-story home with a two-car garage. The performance comes just a few months after the singer said she’s “lucky to be alive” since adjusting to life with lupus and a rare white blood cell disorder.

Best Homage to Queens of Pop: Basically Everyone

VMAs fashion is as storied as the awards show itself, and attendees brought their A-game for the show’s 40th anniversary. Sabrina Carpenter’s gown referenced a 1991 Madonna-at-the-Oscars look; Tate McRae did a Britney Spears tribute; Glorilla recalled the late TLC rapper Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes; Addison Rae also had Madonna on the mind; and Megan Thee Stallion wore a reimagined version of Spears’ "I'm A Slave 4 U" VMAs costume while feigning fear over her rubber snake.

Moment When Every Millennial Turned To Dust

First, Carson Daly walked on stage and reminded everyone watching that he used to host a little MTV countdown show called Total Request Live, causing anyone over 30 to lose what was left of their hearing. They got it back when Lenny Kravitz stepped on stage to perform spirited renditions of Kravitz classic “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” a new version of 1998’s “Fly Away” (now called “FLY” with Quavo), and “Human,” from his latest album, Blue Electric Light. Kravitz turned 60 this year, and he owned that VMAs stage with the type of expertise that only comes with experience.

Best VMAs Reprise

While helping celebrate the anniversary of Def Jam Records, which coincidentally also turns 40 this year, LL Cool J performed a medley with his onetime labelmates Public Enemy, running through hits like “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “Bring the Noise.” He closed the set with “Doin’ It,” which the two-time VMA winner also performed on the award show’s stage back in 1996. LL was also there to promote a new album, The Force, released earlier this month.

Best Use Of “My Boyfriend Travis”

Taylor Swift and Post Malone, predictably, won Video of the Year for “Fortnight,” which served as a kind of bookend to the evening, as the video also won the show’s first award for Best Collaboration. After thanking all of the concerned parties (including frequent Martin Scorsese collaborator, cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto) and remarking on how ironically fun it was to direct such a moody video, Swift gave Her Boyfriend(™) Travis Kelce a special shout-out: “Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic.” She also asked reminded viewers over 18, for the second time in 24 hours, to register to vote. Finally, fun fact: Swift is now the most-awarded act in VMAs history.