VIRAL NEWS: MTV VMAs. NUFF SAID
A peek into the topics buzzing at Cassandra
Welcome back to our weekly roundup! In today's fast-paced culture, Cassandra is your go-to source for staying in the loop with the topics that have everyone buzzing. This week, we've all been celebrating the remarkable triumph of 19-year-old Coco Gauff in the U.S. Open and closely following how Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are in hot water for the character letters they wrote on behalf of disgraced actor Danny Masterson. However, the MTV VMAs, took the spotlight this week for actually being what it's supposed to be, the pinnacle of the music scene. With naked fashion ruling the red carpet and the iconic Shakira receiving the Vanguard award while fans in the audience belt out their best She Wolf calls in a heartfelt tribute and a celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop, there's plenty more exciting news to unravel. So, without further delay, let's dive straight into the week's most viral VMAs highlights!
OLIVIA RODRIGO’S ON STAGE STUNT
Sink your teeth into this one: Olivia Rodrigo left the audience stunned during her performance of "Vampire" at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. As she sang amidst a backdrop of trees, a seeming malfunction in the pyrotechnics behind her caused some confusion. An apparent VMAs staff member even hurriedly guided her offstage. Despite the apparent concern from stars like Selena Gomez in the audience, it turns out these hiccups were all part of the plan, creatively replicating her "Vampire" music video. Well played, Olivia. You definitely got everyone’s attention.
SELENA GOMEZ SHUTS DOWN THE INTERNET
Speaking of Selena, during Tuesday's ceremony, where she and Rema were honored with the award for the best afrobeats video for their collaboration "Calm Down," Gomez found herself on camera multiple times, and fans quickly deemed her reactions meme-worthy. The most significant moment occurred when Chris Brown was named as one of the nominees in the best R&B video category. As his name was announced, the camera switched to Gomez, who paused her applause and seemed to scrunch up her face. As relatable as she may have been, Gomez wasn’t having it. “I will never be a meme again,” she posted to her Instagram Story hours after the awards. “I’d rather sit still than be dragged for being myself. Much love.”
TAYLOR SWIFT HAS HER FANGIRL MOMENT
Swift, known for her lively presence at awards shows, was unstoppable at the 2023 VMAs. She took home nine awards and became the talk of the night not for her performances but for her exuberant reactions as an audience member sitting next to Ice Spice, either dancing or gabbing in between sips of drinks. However, in between all the revelry, Swift showed us that you can never be too famous to absolutely lose your mind over a '90s boy band when all five members of NSYNC made a surprise cameo, marking exactly 10 years since the iconic quintet's last MTV VMAs appearance to present her with the award for Best Pop Video and a friendship bracelet. She expressed her astonishment at both the reunion and the award, sharing her fangirl moment, reminiscing about her NSYNC dolls, and expressing curiosity about their future plans - she really is just like one of us.