The MTV Video Music Awards have been setting trends and sparking conversations since way back in 1984. This show, known for its unpredictable nature, doesn’t seem to be losing its edge anytime soon. It’s truly a night where anything can happen, and often does, leaving fans talking for ages.
Think of music’s biggest names like Britney Spears, Kanye West, and Miley Cyrus. These stars have practically built a reputation for delivering the VMA’s most unforgettable and, frankly, wildest moments. Who could forget the former Hannah Montana star’s surprising twerk with Robin Thicke? Or when the Pop Princess herself, Britney Spears, shared an iconic kiss with Madonna? Celebrities have always used the VMA stage to grab headlines and stir up a little controversy.
But when we talk about VMA shockers, one moment stands out above the rest. Back in 2009, Kanye West decided to crash Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech. She had just won Best Female Video for her hit "You Belong With Me." Kanye, however, clearly had other ideas about who should have taken home the award.
He walked right up to the microphone, interrupting a stunned Taylor, and declared his opinion. "Hey Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’ll let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time," he proclaimed. He was, of course, talking about Beyoncé’s epic video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." He even repeated, "One of the best videos of all time!" just to make his point extra clear.
Years later, in August 2019, Taylor Swift gave fans a peek into her thoughts right after that moment. She shared a diary entry in the deluxe version of her album Lover. It perfectly summed up her disbelief. She wrote, "Ahh… the things that can change in a week." Taylor added, "Let’s just say, if they had told me one of music’s biggest stars was going to jump on stage and announce that he thinks I shouldn’t have won on live television, I would have said: ‘That doesn’t really happen in real life.’ Well… apparently… it does." It just goes to show how the VMAs can turn a regular awards night into pop culture history, sometimes for all the wrong reasons.