The VMAs may be unserious awards, but they never fail to deliver chaos, spectacle, and culture-defining moments. This year’s show was no exception — despite major absences (Taylor, Beyoncé, Bruno, Kendrick), the 2025 VMAs still pulled record viewership and plenty of drama.
In this week’s episode, I recap it all:
Red Carpet Theater: Doja Cat eats her lipstick, Summer Walker feeds her “special friend” cotton candy, and Sabrina Carpenter outdresses everyone in Valentino
Winners + Snubs: Gaga runs the night, Ariana leans full Glinda, Sabrina cements her pop reign… and I have thoughts about Alex Warren. (More on that here.)
Performances: Lady Gaga’s mind-bending Madison Square Garden stunt, Tate McRae’s sandstorm dance break, Doja’s jaw-dropping set and Mariah Carey’s long-overdue Video Vanguard.
The Bigger Picture: Why women in pop keep innovating while the men continue to cling to “youth pastor-core.”
And I close with a quick recap of pop culture news: Sabrina’s surprise new album Man’s Best Friend, Doja Cat’s upcoming release, and the long-awaited return of Hilary Duff to music. Hallelujah!
