MTV VMAs Photos: The Wildest Moments from 1984 to Now
For 35 years, the MTV Video Music Awards has decisively delivered some of the most memorable moments in entertainment history.
When you hear the acronym “VMAs,” you might immediately recall a few of the 35 epic Video of the Year winners, but you definitely remember way more of the onstage antics and performances that got the world talking.
Your brain likely flashes back to Britney Spears holding an albino Burmese python, or Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech or Madonna kissing both Spears and Christina Aguilera. The moments are seemingly endless, so we compiled the wildest ones below to get your ready for the 2019 VMAs on Aug. 26.
1984: Madonna writhes onstage for “Like a Virgin” during the first-ever VMAs, setting the bar high
Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images
1995: Michael Jackson gets upset at Slash for long guitar solo during MJ’s medley before security steps in
Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images
1997: Diddy, Sting, 112 and Faith Evans sing in tribute to Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac and Princess Diana
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
2001: Britney Spears steals the show, performing “I’m a Slave 4 U” while holding an albino Burmese python
Kevin Mazur/Wire Image/Getty Images
2002: Eminem argues with Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog
Scott Gries/Image Direct/Getty Images
2003: In “the kiss seen around the world,” Madonna, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera kiss mid-song
Kevin Kane/Wire Image/GettyImages
Kevin Kane/Wire Image/GettyImages
2009: Lady Gaga hangs herself during “Paparazzi”
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
2009: Kanye West rudely interrupts Taylor Swift’s Best Female Video speech to shout out Beyoncé’s video
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images
2011: Beyoncé reveals pregnancy by rubbing belly at end of ”Love on Top” performance
Jeff Kravitz/Film Magic/Getty Images
1999 vs. 2013: NSYNC reunites for Justin Timberlake’s Video Vanguard Award medley
1999 / Frank Micelotta/Image Direct/Getty Images
2013 / Jeff Kravitz/Film Magic for MTV/Getty Images
2013: Miley Cyrus twerks on Robin Thicke
Michael Loccisano/Film Magic/Getty Images
2015: Kanye and Swift make amends (temporarily)
Kevin Winter/MTV/Getty Images
2016: Rihanna wins Video Vanguard Award and Drake confesses his love to her during his intro speech
Ewel Samade/AFP/Getty Images
2017: Kendrick Lamar sets the stage and a person ablaze for fiery performance of “DNA/HUMBLE”
Frederick M/Brown/Getty Images
2017: Thirty Seconds to Mars and Travis Scott perform using glowing thermal technology
Larry Busacca/MTV/Getty Images
2018: Logic performs “One Day” with kids decked out in “We Are All Human” shirts to support immigration
Theo Wargo/Getty Images
2019: What moment will stand out this year?
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