Hosted by Nicki Minaj, the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards were held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey and included a lot of memorable moments.
To no surprise, Taylor Swift won the most Moon Persons, earning nine wins including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year. Shakira was honored the with Video Vanguard Award, while Cardi B. and Megan Thee Stallion slayed the stage with their new single “Bongos”.
Nonetheless, LGBTQ artists represented with Ice Spice winning Best New Artist while Dove Cameron nabbed a Moon Person for Video for Good for her song “Breakfast”. Måneskin was also a winner under the Best Rock category.
A huge moment was when Lance Bass and his fellow NSYNC members Justin Timberlake, J.C. Chasez, Joey Fatone, and Chris Kirkpatrick reunited on stage to present Taylor Swift with the VMA for Best Pop Video. It’s been 19 years since the iconic boy band went their separate ways, but there has been plenty of chatter about the quintet reuniting for the upcoming Trolls Band Together, which is part of the popular Timberlake-fronted DreamWorks animated franchise.
Demi Lovato took to the VMA stage to deliver a rockin’ medley of her songs that included “Heart Attack,” “Sorry Not Sorry,” and “Cool for the Summer.” Appropriately, all these rock versions of her songs will be on her album REVAMPED, out September 15.
Anitta also performed a medley but then surprised the crowd with a new single titled “Grip”. The Brazilian pop star also won a Moon Person for her “Funk Rave” video in the Best Latin category.