Ariana Grande's MTV VMAs reactions spark heated debate after moving Ozzy Osbourne tribute
Ariana Grande was one of the biggest winners at the 2025 MTV VMAs but the pop star was also the subject of speculation on social media after the awards show
Pop icon Ariana Grande was the talk of the 2025 VMAs on Sunday night, thanks to bagging awards and going viral online thanks to her antics at the star-studded awards show.
The Wicked actress picked up the video of the year, long-form video and best pop video awards for Brighter Days Ahead, thanking her father for his cameo and giving a shout out to "my therapist and gay people" in one of her acceptance speeches.
In addition to dishing out Moon People gongs to the living, the awards also honoured former Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, who died in July aged 76, with a performance introduced by a video message from his son Jack and his children.
British singer Yungblud joined Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, together with Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt to perform hits including Crazy Train, Changes and Mama, I’m Coming Home.
Confirming the tribute on Friday, Yungblud shared a snap of himself posing alongside his idol Ozzy on Instagram and wrote: "They’ve asked me to pay tribute to you at the @vmas on Sunday night. I’ll try my best to do you proud Oz. Tune in from up there. I love you forever."
As Yungblud belted out his idol's classic hits, the cameras panned to those in the crowd watching the emotional tribute - with Ariana's reactions setting social media alight.
Thanks to the cameras catching her wide-eyed, open mouthed and throwing her hands in the air, Ariana was accused of being 'performative' by some Twitter (X) critics.
"She knows she’s on camera. Over acting," one fumed, with another asking: "Why did she react like that?" A third quipped: "This kinda looks forced I’m ngl' [sic]."
But it wasn't just her reactions to the performance that pulled focus last night. Ariana's face while watching Lady Gaga win big, and Doja Cat hitting high notes while performing, have also gone viral - and many loved it!
"Ariana’s reaction to lady gaga’s speech is so precious," one fan gushed online. "Ariana gagged by dojas performance this is so serious to me," another quipped as a third penned: "Ariana and her family being constant reaction vids all night is hilarious I love seeing all of this on the timeline."
Elsewhere at the 2025 VMAs, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet was named album of the year, while she was named best pop artist and took home the visual effects award for Manchild.
Other multiple award winners were Doechii, who won the hip-hop award and choreography for Anxiety, and Tate McRae who picked up the editing award and song of the summer for Just Keep Watching from the F1 movie.
Coldplay won the rock category for All My Love with Sombr collecting the alternative award for Back To Friends and Shakira taking the Latin prize for Soltera.
Carpenter, Sombr, McRae, best new artist Alex Warren and Katseye, who won performance of the year, were among those who performed at the ceremony, while Post Malone performed from Germany alongside Jelly Roll.
The live show ended with a number of awards not presented, which were announced after it had finished on Twitter/X.
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