Listen. There’s plenty to keep doomscrolling about, so, naturally, we’re going to ignore all of that and talk about the VMAs. Nothing says “healthy coping mechanism” quite like choosing to think about things that make us happy on purpose, so let’s recap what happened while the celebs were scream-singing underneath the laser lights.
This year’s VMAs went down on September 7th, 2025 at the UBS Arena in New York. LL Cool J hosted, because he knew we needed to hear from him. Yes, he’s still got it. Yes, your aunt still has the hots for him. Yes, you’re wrong if you don’t see why. Anyhow, this year’s VMAs ceremony pulled out all the stops: bangers, meltdowns, and no fewer than three standing ovations that we didn’t see coming.
Well, there was one thing we kind of saw coming. Ariana Grande won Video of the Year for Brighter Days Ahead, and she also managed to snag Best Pop Video and Best Long Form Video. She then gave an emotional acceptance speech thanking her fans, co-director, and “manifesting joy in dark times.” She also point-blank thanked her therapist and her gay fans who ensured that her star kept rising. In case you needed the reminder that she can belt, act, and cry onstage without ruining her eyeliner, she threw down the gauntlet that night. Pop off, queen.
Ariana wasn’t the only queen to strut the stage. Lady Gaga took us all back to 2010 with the way she utterly dominated the VMAs stage. She won Artist of the Year and Best Collaboration (hat tip to Die With a Smile, which she recorded with Bruno Mars), as well as a handful of technical awards. The visuals she concocted for Abracadabra also won Best Direction and Art Direction. She made no fewer than three wardrobe changes and essentially sneaky co-hosted the whole thing without being asked, because when Mother Monster delivers, she delivers.
In addition to the queens of pop accepting their flowers, Ricky Martin won the Latin Icon Award in an emotional moment that was well-earned over the course of his career. Busta Rhymes was honored with the Rock the Bells Visionary Award. Millennials like yours truly were ugly-crying, Gen Z was frantically Googling to make sure they knew who was who, and everyone watching agreed that Busta still raps faster than anyone else alive.
Speaking of ugly crying, can we talk about that Ozzy tribute? Sob. I’m still not over it. Chaos met catharsis when Jack Osbourne (and his daughters) introduced the musical tribute to his late father. Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Yungblud, and Nuno Bettencourt took to the stage to perform a medley of Ozzy’s greatest hits. Sharon’s been through it, but you know somewhere she smiled a little when they sang Mama, I’m Coming Home. It was loud. It was messy. It was exactly what the Prince of Darkness would have wanted, I tell you what.
A few other highlights that made the night memorable: Rosé and Bruno Mars won Song of the Year, Tate McRae won Song of the Summer, and Sabrina Carpenter not only won Best Album + Best Visual Effects, but her live performance made a point of amplifying drag queens and trans performers. She’s a girls’ girl, and I’m here for it.
To conclude: praise the Lord, and pass the glitter. The world is chaos, but for one beautiful night, we had Gaga in sequins, Ariana in tears, LL Cool J keeping an eye on the time, and everyone taking a moment together to remember Ozzy as he wanted to be remembered. If that won’t keep your heart warm through at least one night of doomscrolling, then I can’t help you.
