The 10 Best Moments from the 2024 MTV VMAs

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan.Photo:Christopher Polk/Getty; Mike Coppola/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty

Christopher Polk/Getty; Mike Coppola/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty

See 10 of the ceremony’s best moments, fromChappell Roan’s show-stealing, Joan of Arc-inspired performance toOrlando BloomandKaty Perry’s onstage PDA.

01of 10Flavor Flav Gifts Jordan Chiles a Bronze Clock and Olympic Prize MoneyFlavor Flav and Jordan Chiles.ike Coppola/GettyOutspoken Team USA fanFlavor Flavhit the stage with OlympianJordan Chilesto present the first award of the night — for best collaboration — and whileTaylor SwiftandPost Malonetook home the Moon Person,Chiles was offered a prize of her own.In response to the news that Chiles had beenstripped of her gymnastics bronze medal, the 65-year-old Public Enemy rapper presented Chiles with a bronze clock necklace — a gift he had previously teased on social media. In addition to the new accessory, he also said he would pay her the cash award she would have been awarded as a third-place finisher.“And guess what else, too,” Flav said on stage. “I got your prize money … I just wanted to surprise you with that. I didn’t want to say nothing to you backstage.““But Jordan, you did your thing,” he told her. “Congratulations. You deserve everything.”

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Flavor Flav Gifts Jordan Chiles a Bronze Clock and Olympic Prize Money

Flavor Flav and Jordan Chiles.ike Coppola/Getty

ike Coppola/Getty

Outspoken Team USA fanFlavor Flavhit the stage with OlympianJordan Chilesto present the first award of the night — for best collaboration — and whileTaylor SwiftandPost Malonetook home the Moon Person,Chiles was offered a prize of her own.

In response to the news that Chiles had beenstripped of her gymnastics bronze medal, the 65-year-old Public Enemy rapper presented Chiles with a bronze clock necklace — a gift he had previously teased on social media. In addition to the new accessory, he also said he would pay her the cash award she would have been awarded as a third-place finisher.

“And guess what else, too,” Flav said on stage. “I got your prize money … I just wanted to surprise you with that. I didn’t want to say nothing to you backstage.”

“But Jordan, you did your thing,” he told her. “Congratulations. You deserve everything.”

02of 10Taylor Swift and Post Malone Share a Sweet Acceptance SpeechPost Malone and Taylor Swift.Mike Coppola/GettyTaylor Swiftstarted off this year’s VMAs strong, taking home the first Moon Person of the night for best collaboration forThe Tortured Poets Departmentsingle, “Fortnight” withPost Malone.“There is a very clear reason why Post Malone is everyone in music’s favorite person to collaborate with,“Swift began, before addressing the musician: “It is because you are so ridiculously talented. You are so versatile, and you’re the most down-to-earth person.“Malone complimented Swift in return, sharing that though he was at “an absolute loss for words,” she is “one of the most kind and talented people I’ve ever had the honor of knowing.”

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Taylor Swift and Post Malone Share a Sweet Acceptance Speech

Post Malone and Taylor Swift.Mike Coppola/Getty

Mike Coppola/Getty

Taylor Swiftstarted off this year’s VMAs strong, taking home the first Moon Person of the night for best collaboration forThe Tortured Poets Departmentsingle, “Fortnight” withPost Malone.

“There is a very clear reason why Post Malone is everyone in music’s favorite person to collaborate with,“Swift began, before addressing the musician: “It is because you are so ridiculously talented. You are so versatile, and you’re the most down-to-earth person.”

Malone complimented Swift in return, sharing that though he was at “an absolute loss for words,” she is “one of the most kind and talented people I’ve ever had the honor of knowing.”

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Megan Thee Stallion Pays Homage to an Iconic Britney Spears VMAs Outfit

ThoughMegan Thee Stallionsported various ensembles throughout her night as host, one outfit in particular was especially noteworthy as it paid tribute to one ofBritney Spears’ iconic “I’m a Slave 4 U” performance at the 2001 VMAs. Megan emulated the look to a tee complete with a green bra top and a yellowlivesnake — though she was decidedly less thrilled about her serpentine encounter and called for it to be removed halfway through her introduction.

Megan wasn’t the only one to shout-out Spears in style: Tate McRae’s Roberto Cavalli dress worn over Fleur du Mal lingerie echoed the navy minidress that Spears wore on the red carpet in 2001 …

04of 10Sabrina Carpenter References Britney Spears and Kisses an Alien in MedleySabrina Carpenter.Christopher Polk/Getty…andSabrina Carpenter’smedley performancenot only featured an out-of-this-world set complete with astronauts and an alien, during her transition from “Please Please Please” to “Taste” the spoken interlude from Spears' “Oops!…I Did It Again” played in the background.And if that weren’t enough to get fans buzzing, Carpenter also planted one on the alien before launching into “Espresso.”

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Sabrina Carpenter References Britney Spears and Kisses an Alien in Medley

Sabrina Carpenter.Christopher Polk/Getty

Christopher Polk/Getty

…andSabrina Carpenter’smedley performancenot only featured an out-of-this-world set complete with astronauts and an alien, during her transition from “Please Please Please” to “Taste” the spoken interlude from Spears' “Oops!…I Did It Again” played in the background.

And if that weren’t enough to get fans buzzing, Carpenter also planted one on the alien before launching into “Espresso.”

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Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry Kiss Before Her Video Vanguard Speech

When it was time forKaty Perryto take the stageto performas the recipient of this year’sVideo Vanguard Award, she had a very special someone present her to the audience.

“You fell in love with her as Katy Perry. I feel in love with her as Katheryn Hudson,” Perry’s longtime partnerOrlando Bloombegan his speech.

“You know her as a global superstar who brings love, light and her unique sense of humor to every song she writes and music video she creates,” he continued. “I know her as a mother, as a partner, who brings that same love and joy to our family.”

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Chappell Roan Sets the Stage on Fire in Debut Awards Show Performance

Chappell Roan.Arturo Holmes/Getty

Arturo Holmes/Getty

As she concluded the song kneeling at the front of the stage, the crowd in the UBS Arena erupted in cheers.

07of 10Halsey Rocks Out in a GarageHalsey.Mike Coppola/GettyAfter pulling up to the red carpet in thesame Versace dressthatElizabeth Hurleywore to the VMAs in 1996,Halseycontinued the throwback theme with an ’00s-inflected performance of her latest single“Ego.”The singer-songwriter rocked out with her electric guitar in a garage set with her band, which includedMåneskinbassist Victoria De Angelis. Taking the audience back to pop rock’s peak in the early-aughts, she wore a sleeveless, collared shirt and a black tie with cutoff jeans and Converse.

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Halsey Rocks Out in a Garage

Halsey.Mike Coppola/Getty

After pulling up to the red carpet in thesame Versace dressthatElizabeth Hurleywore to the VMAs in 1996,Halseycontinued the throwback theme with an ’00s-inflected performance of her latest single“Ego.”The singer-songwriter rocked out with her electric guitar in a garage set with her band, which includedMåneskinbassist Victoria De Angelis. Taking the audience back to pop rock’s peak in the early-aughts, she wore a sleeveless, collared shirt and a black tie with cutoff jeans and Converse.

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Chappell Roan Gives a Heartfelt Best New Artist Acceptance Speech

Chappell Roan.Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty

Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty

“Thank you to the people who are fans, who listen to me, who hear me When I share my joy and my fears,” continued the singer, who recently expressed her anxieties about fame.

She concluded, “And for all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now, I see you. I understand you, because I’m one of you, and don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be.”

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LL Cool J Performs a Nostalgic Medley of Hip-Hop Hits

LL Cool J.Mike Coppola/Getty

10of 10Taylor Swift Shouts Out Boyfriend Travis Kelce in Her Acceptance SpeechTaylor Swift.Mike Coppola/GettyFans were over the moon (person) when Taylor Swift gave boyfriendTravis Kelcea shout-outin her acceptance speech for Video of the Year, which she won for “Fortnight."“The thing is that this video — it seems very sad when you watch it, but it actually was like the most fun video to make,” she said. “Something that I’ll always remember is that when I would finish a take and I’d say ‘cut’ and we’d be done with that take, I would always just hear like someone cheering from across the studio where we were shooting it, and that one person was my boyfriend, Travis.““Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic,” she added of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. “So, I want to thank him for adding that to our shoot, because I’ll always remember that.”

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Taylor Swift Shouts Out Boyfriend Travis Kelce in Her Acceptance Speech

Taylor Swift.Mike Coppola/Getty

Fans were over the moon (person) when Taylor Swift gave boyfriendTravis Kelcea shout-outin her acceptance speech for Video of the Year, which she won for “Fortnight.”

“The thing is that this video — it seems very sad when you watch it, but it actually was like the most fun video to make,” she said. “Something that I’ll always remember is that when I would finish a take and I’d say ‘cut’ and we’d be done with that take, I would always just hear like someone cheering from across the studio where we were shooting it, and that one person was my boyfriend, Travis.”

“Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic,” she added of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. “So, I want to thank him for adding that to our shoot, because I’ll always remember that.”

source: people.com