12 important things that happened at the 2025 MTV VMAs

Yes, Doja Cat really ate her lipstick.

  Getty Images for MTV

The 2025 MTV VMAs took place on Sunday night with the ceremony reflecting both the past and future of pop music. That meant a ceremony that found time to honor legacy artists including Ricky Martin and Busta Rhymes alongside new gen acts KATSEYE and sombr. L.L. Cool J oversaw the event in his role as host, a slot he previously took on in 2022.

There were plenty of big names in attendance, including Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, and Sabrina Carpenter. All three picked up two moonman trophies each, while the latter pair also performed live. They joined an impressive bill that also included Doja Cat (flanked by Kenny G) underlining the ’80s vibe of her new song, “Jealous Type,” and Tate McRae bringing her trademark impressive choreo. Carpenter, meanwhile, performed her song “Tears” and used the stage to make a pro-trans statement, bringing a jolt of electricity to a largely routine night at the UBS Arena on Long Island.

Here are the highlights of the 2025 MTV V.M.A.s.

Sexyy Red and Gabby Windey had real chemistry

Somebody get these two a podcast ASAP.

Lady Gaga came for a good time, not a long time

Lady Gaga had a busy night on Sunday but still showed her face at the VMAs. With a sold-out date on her Mayhem Ball tour scheduled across town in Manhattan later in the evening, she accept the award for Artist of the Year and delivered a (pre-recorded) performance of “Abracadabra” and “The Dead Dance.” “I wish I could stay and watch all these amazing performances, but I have to go back to Madison Square Garden,” she said while picking up the first award of the night.

Sabrina Carpenter said protect the dolls

Sabrina Carpenter performed her Man’s Best Friend song “Tears” with a rain-soaked performance and a political message. Her backing dancers, which included Drag Race stars Lexi Love and Symone plus Honey Balenciaga, held signs that read “In trans we trust,” “Dolls, dolls, dolls,” “If you hate, you’ll never get laid,” “Love each other,” “Support drag,” and “Protect trans rights.”

Carpenter elaborated on her performance in her speech as she accepted the Best Album award for Short N’ Sweet. “This world, as we all know, can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity,” she said. “So to get to be part of something that can bring light, make you smile, make you dance, and make you feel like the world is your fucking oyster. I’m so grateful to do that.”

Doja Cat ate. Literally.

Appearing on the red carpet before her performance, Doja posed for the cameras and applied her lipstick. Then she switched things up and started chewing on it. Thing stayed whacky once she got on the stage, with sax symbol Kenny G joining her for a performance of “Jealous Type” that gave nods to cyberpunk video jockey Max Headroom and Control-era Janet Jackson choreography.

The vibe was very Millennial

The VMAs guest list in 2025 read a lot like it was 2006: Ricky Martin, Ashlee and Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton, Brittany Snow, Taylor Momsen, Jersey Shore‘s Snooki, and many more. Was MTV tapping into nostalgia bait or simply plugging the gaps where the no-shows (Taylor, Charli, Kendrick) left them lacking?

KATSEYE showed why they’re next up

The members of KATSEYE spent nearly two years training and competing for their spots in the group. That hard work was on display when they took to the stage twice: once during the pre-show when they performed “Gnarly” and again when they delivered an excellent rendition of “Gabriela.”

Alex Warren took it church

Alex Warren, the most “and he was there” artist of 2025, took home one of the night’s biggest prizes with his Best New Artist gong. He later took the stage and performed his mega-hit “Ordinary” backed by a gospel choir. And that’s all there is to say about that.

Mariah Carey threw some (deserved) shade at MTV

Somehow, in a glittering career that dates back about as long as MTV has existed, Mariah Carey has never won a VMA. That changed on Sunday night and Mariah wasn’t going to let them forget the fact. “I can’t believe I’m getting my first VMA tonight. I just have one question: What in the Sam Hill were you waiting for?” she said while accpeting the coveted Video Vanguard award.

Good things come to those who wait, like Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes, recently seen as a bank robber in The Naked Gun reboot, brought more laughs when he became the first winner of the new LL Cool J Rock The Bells award. Busta, like Mariah Carey, had never won a VMA before last night and wanted to remind those in charge of the fact.

“I don’t usually do these long speeches; I’m not going to do one today,” he said. “But the next time y’all take 35 years to give me one of these, y’all going to let me talk as long as I want.”

Rosé would like to thank… herself

Rosé won Song of the Year (for “APT.”) and was visibly emotional on stage. “This is a really big moment for 16-year-old me and anyone else who has dreamed about being accepted equally for their hard work,” she said in one of the night’s most heartfelt moments.

While Ariana Grande thanked the gays and her therapist

Taking to the stage to collect the Video of the Year for “Brighter Days Ahead,” Grande spoke about the importance of the song and her 2024 album, Eternal Sunshine. “This project is about the hard work that is healing all different kinds of trauma and coming home to our young selves and creating safety in our own lives, which is a lifelong process and a daily exercise,” she. “If you’re on that journey, please continue onward, because I promise there are brighter days ahead.”

From there she then proceeded to thank pretty much everyone in the world, starting with the video’s director Christian Breslauer and her co-star dad before ending with a final thank you “to my therapist and gay people. I love you.”

The night ended with a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne

Yungblud continued to thrive in his role as the only new rock star people over the age of 50 have heard of by joining Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry in a tribute to heavy metal and MTV reality TV royalty, Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy’s son Jack, a moody teenager when The Osbournes first aired, appeared via video link surrounded by his own kids to introduce the touching moment.