Another year, another MTV Video Music Awards. After a socially-distanced outing in 2020, the VMAs returned in full force at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Sunday (Sept. 12) night for yet another memorable evening of performances, speeches, and of course, Moon People.
The 2021 VMAs were a big night for Olivia Rodrigo, who took home both song of the year and best new artist, while Justin Bieber and Lil Nas X also had good nights, each taking home artist and video of the year, respectively.
But what moments from the evening caught fans’ attention? Was it Lil Nas twerking against a shower floor for his performance of “Industry Baby”? Were they interested in Doja Cat attempting to wiggle her way off stage while dressed as a fashionable worm? Did Normani‘s Janet Jackson tribute with Teyana Taylor get Twitter talking?
Below, Billboard rounds up some of the best memes and online reactions from fans, including cinematic parallels between Lil Nas X and SpongeBob SquarePants, Justin Bieber serving Kermit the Frog realness and much more.
Madonna very much serving “and why aren’t you in uniform” #VMA #VMAs pic.twitter.com/CCkuZrcm4s
— m@k (@MaKayla_Day21) September 13, 2021
https://twitter.com/4mnee/status/1437209368911613953
Justin Bieber on #VMAs pic.twitter.com/qW1gqNTh9h
— giulia (@angellspeak) September 13, 2021
Olivia's performance #VMAs pic.twitter.com/BZ8jIbwmT9
— stacy's TIRED🧣🦭 (@werestacy) September 13, 2021
NOT OLIVIA RODRIGO BREAKING THE CAMERA DURING HER PERFORMANCE OF 'GOOD 4 U' 😭 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/kGppT9ql95
— squid || fan account 🐙 (@greedymotivez) September 13, 2021
I KNEW that ed sheeran song Shivers sounded familiar. 🧐 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/YHIEy3cc5q
— SΞAN (@Seanlofficial) September 13, 2021
me: I wonder what she's gonna do #VMAs
Kacey: pic.twitter.com/3I5ejy4TUT— C O U R T N E Y (@fearlessGHmama) September 13, 2021
that pregnancy announcement during twenty one pilots’ vmas performance was probably the funniest thing i’ve seen today
— 🛸ella🛸 (@spooky_ella_) September 13, 2021
romeo and kacey musgraves
juliet [1996] #VMAs [2021] pic.twitter.com/mDn9Bnv6oN— tasha (taylor’s version)🧣 (@Iivirodrigo) September 13, 2021
republicans seeing the lil nas x #VMAs performance https://t.co/JG9eoz0PLK
— chase. (@cfree94) September 13, 2021
lil nas x leaving the vmas while boosie and his goons outside #vmas pic.twitter.com/RSDDRZMY4w
— 111 (@benjidadonn) September 13, 2021
Lil Nas X knows his references #vmas pic.twitter.com/CSxD0dK3gc
— Best Vision TV (@Bestvisiontv) September 13, 2021
https://twitter.com/BAHjournalist/status/1437222738913939456
doja cat rn #vmas pic.twitter.com/bTjdAUaHac
— ً (@furyofthegodz) September 13, 2021
doja cat – been like this live from the #vmas pic.twitter.com/92rcYOmbjc
— autumn (@autumnasasadboy) September 13, 2021
Watching Doja Cat give us a professional modern dance routine #VMAs pic.twitter.com/5TstoY6Atu
— Joshua Chenault (@joshuachenault1) September 13, 2021
Me telling everyone that Chloe is the girl of the moment #VMAs pic.twitter.com/0pSSWZWNDF
— Joshua Chenault (@joshuachenault1) September 13, 2021
Chloe having her Illuminati moment oh shes here to stay #VMAs pic.twitter.com/1BaW3W0pf3
— Antonio (@Antonio__wade98) September 13, 2021
NORMANI AND TEYANA TAYLOR. THATS IT THATS THE TWEET #VMAs pic.twitter.com/Z6h9KiVWrB
— Agustin’s STILL OVER IT (@tweetymouth7) September 13, 2021
normani referenced both aaliyah and janet, YEA SHE KNOWS! #VMAs pic.twitter.com/QfI3BZlW7V
— 𝐦 ❅ (@dlceszn) September 13, 2021
I came here for Normani, Chloe and Doja and I was NOT disappointed. It gave EXACTLY what it was supposed to give. #VMAs pic.twitter.com/QRWbKYiqqT
— K🌷 (@xoKaylaaxoxo) September 13, 2021
the yts in the audience singing along to ozuna #vmas pic.twitter.com/NbQSn0zdhT
— carlos (@salmonskinroIIs) September 13, 2021
anyone remember the OG teddy bear performance on the #VMAs Miley or Ozuna who did it better? pic.twitter.com/2NL3SKx0ze
— SΞAN (@Seanlofficial) September 13, 2021
why doja giving alaskan bull worm tonight 😭 #vmas pic.twitter.com/o6R5U9YvTU
— g (@bearonwarmrock) September 13, 2021
Doja Cat wasn’t lying when she said she looked like a worm #VMAs pic.twitter.com/M0tZd7Keyx
— JushForFans (@jush_for_fun) September 13, 2021
now THIS is camp #VMAs pic.twitter.com/3LssOsigwO
— stephen (@drippinonika) September 13, 2021
IS ANYONE SLEEPING TONIGHT AFTER THIS??? #VMAs pic.twitter.com/MOp6WmyM2k
— archive normani (@archivenormni) September 13, 2021
SZA: "…Here is Alicia Keys"
Lil Mama: (Trying to hurry up to get to the stage)#VMA #VMAs pic.twitter.com/bsQgqo1k6w
— Unknown Beauty 🦄 (@2beAbeauty) September 13, 2021
ALICIA KEYS WILL SING THIS SONG TILL NEW YORK IS UNDER WATER 😭#VMAs pic.twitter.com/skeKuAevt1
— chanel no 2 💋 (@skinnytopyuh) September 13, 2021
Doja’s chair joke didn’t SIT right with the audience. #VMAs pic.twitter.com/bMUSSF4CA1
— SteveJr (@DwayneJay) September 13, 2021
Busta Rhymes giving a better performance at 50 than all of these teens tonight. #VMAs pic.twitter.com/0sUpSU6Ymk
— Footballfan23578 (@Footbal82765042) September 13, 2021
GO AWF NIECE @LilNasX !!! Video of the year!!! 😭😭😭 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/dhtG8822JJ
— Twiggy Pucci Garçon (@SimplyTwiggy) September 13, 2021