This year’s MTV Video Music Awards was one for the ages. From Lady Gaga’s acceptance speech to Yungblud teaming up with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, the night was truly for the elite, filled with unforgettable performances, iconic cameos and high fashion that left the evening’s event as one for the pop culture history books.

Not only was it a star-studded gathering filled with high-end fashion and elaborate performances, but (as with every celebrity event) it was also a gathering of psychoanalyzed celebrities at the heart of various feuds and rumors. Some of the most notable speculations were the absence of Taylor Swift and her now-fiancé Travis Kelce and the absence of Ethan Slater, who has been rumored to have broken up with his “Wicked” co-star, Ariana Grande, after failing to attend.

A hot topic of the evening also centered around a breakup after Tate McRae and The Kid Laroi appeared together for the first time after their split in July. Both Laroi and McRae performed at the awards show, with many focusing on the pair failing to watch each other’s performances.

McRae, who won “Song of the Summer” for her hit “Just Keep Watching” and beat out artists like Chappell Roan and Doja Cat, also rocked the house with her stunning performance of “Revolving Door” and “Sports Car,” both from her album “So Close To What.” McRae was among of the best-received artists of the night, neck-in-neck with the performances of Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter and Yungblud.

Back to win four awards this year and 22 VMAs in total, making her the third-most awarded artist ever at the VMAs, was a very hurried Lady Gaga. Also having a gig at Madison Square Garden that night, Gaga took the stage early, accepting the most climactic award of the night, “Artist of the Year.”

Tied for the second biggest winner was Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter. Grande won “Video of the Year,” “Best Long Form Video” and “Best Pop.” Grande also appeared onstage with pop icon Mariah Carey to present the “Fantasy” singer with the “Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award” for her lasting impact on pop music. The award, initially called the Video Vanguard Award, was renamed for Michael Jackson in 1991 and is one of the most prestigious lifetime achievement awards at the VMAs.

Carpenter, who won “Best Pop Artist,” “Best Visual Effects” and “Best Album,” made waves by performing her song “Tears” for the first time, joined by an ensemble of drag queen backup dancers on a 1990s-esque New York set. The “Espresso” singer took the opportunity to include some activism within her performance, the dancers sporting picket signs reading “Protect Trans Rights” and “In Trans We Trust,” all while channeling her inner Britney Spears. Beginning with a fringed dress, Carpenter eventually revealed a sparkly bra and leggings set while performing the dance break as water rained down on her. Carpenter’s stage presence was nothing short of iconic, leaving a bold mark on the evening that was difficult to follow.

Another highlight of the night was the collaboration between Yungblud and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. The trio performed a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne with intoxicating renditions of Osbourne’s hits “Crazy Train,” “Changes” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” The tribute was a bittersweet moment of the award show, the loss of the beloved rocker just two months ago hanging heavy over the crowd of artists, despite the performative energy and overall excitement.

Although there were many victories, there were also great losses. One baffling result of the night was Doechii winning “Best Hip Hop” for her song “Anxiety,” beating out legends like LL Cool J, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. The poorly mixed and overplayed single samples Gotye’s hit “Somebody That I Used To Know,” but fails to bring anything new to the song. Its popularity on TikTok may have brought the single onto the playing field, but popularity does not mean talent.

Other nominees for the category, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar, were both nominated for high-quality songs of substance that demonstrated depth and complexities both lyrically and instrumentally. “Somebody Save Me,” a single from Eminem’s blockbuster album “The Death of Slim Shady,” is a touching piece about the rapper’s previous struggles with addiction and is written as a letter to his three children, imagining how their lives would be different if he had not survived his 2007 overdose.

Lamar’s hit, “Not Like Us,” is his expression of morals and values that define him and his connection to the Black community while taking a jab at Drake, who was also nominated in the same category. The hit single touches on the exploitation of Black artists, authenticity and includes a call to action for listeners to identify and understand these values.

Though the night had many ups and downs of victories and snubs, MTV’s 2025 Video Music Awards was filled with unforgettable moments of the population’s favorite stars and gave us commoners a peek into the world of music and fashion.