A brief backstage exchange between Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday in New York drew scrutiny after video of the encounter circulated online, while Grande also presented Mariah Carey with the Video Vanguard Award and went on to win Video of the Year.
Footage shown by media outlets captured what was described as a reserved first hug between Grande and Carpenter during the lengthy ceremony. When Carpenter, who won three awards including Best Album for Short n' Sweet, moved to embrace Grande a second time the singer did not fully reciprocate, and a later moment showed Carpenter placing a hand around Grande's neck in a gesture some observers called playful and others called awkward. The exchange was widely discussed on social media.
Body language analyst Judi James told the Daily Mail that the interaction looked "frosty," noting a partial hug and an elbow-clutch that suggested the two performers did not appear especially familiar. Fans and commentators offered varying interpretations online, with some accusing Carpenter of being insincere and others saying Grande appeared professional and controlled during the encounter.
Earlier in the evening Grande, 31, presented Mariah Carey with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. Photographs from the ceremony showed the two singers together backstage after Carey’s acceptance speech and subsequent medley of hits, which included "Sugar Sweet," "Fantasy," "Honey," "Obsessed" and "It's Like That." Carey, 56, donned a gold sequined bodysuit and knee-high boots for the segment.
Carey’s onstage medley prompted criticism on social media, where some viewers described the performance as restrained and suggested she relied on pre-recorded vocals. Those criticisms were posted to platforms such as X by fans and critics in the hours following the telecast.
Grande secured the top prize of the night, Video of the Year, for "Brighter Days Ahead," and also won Best Pop for the same project. Her Video of the Year victory came over nominees including Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, Rosé and Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter, and The Weeknd & Playboi Carti. In her acceptance speech Grande spoke about healing and resilience, telling the audience, "This project is about the hard work that is healing all different kinds of drama and coming home to our young selves... If you're on that journey please continue because I promise there are brighter days ahead." She thanked fans, members of her creative team, her therapist and explicitly expressed support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n' Sweet earned Best Album, and she took home a total of three Moon Person trophies. Lady Gaga collected multiple awards as well, including Artist of the Year and Best Collaboration with Bruno Mars for "Die With a Smile." Rosé and Bruno Mars won Song of the Year for "Apt."
The VMAs also presented special honors: Mariah Carey received the Video Vanguard Award, Ricky Martin was named Latin Icon, and Busta Rhymes was given the Rock The Bells Visionary Award. The ceremony, which included numerous high-profile performances and outfit changes, generated both acclaim for several artists' creative work and debate over a handful of staged moments and performances.
Organizers aired the show live from New York, and reactions to the evening’s highlights — from award winners to backstage interactions and onstage presentations — circulated across social platforms and in post-show coverage.