Yungblud drew polarized reaction on social media after appearing shirtless on the red carpet at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday evening.
The 28-year-old rocker, born Dominic Richard Harrison, removed a black leather sherpa jacket on the UBS Arena red carpet in Elmont, New York, then posed shirtless for photographers, striking exaggerated stances and facing the cameras with arms outstretched. Fans and observers on X — formerly Twitter — posted a mixture of concern and praise for the look.
Some social media users criticized the appearance. A Pop Crave post quoting reactions captured comments such as "A literal mess…" and "He’s obsessed with looking a damn mess." Another user compared his styling to a 1990s television vampire, writing, "it’s giving temu spike from buffy the vampire slayer." Other posts defended the choice, calling it on-brand and praising its vintage rock and grunge influences. One user wrote, "That styling choice is so perfectly on brand for him. When someone stays true to their aesthetic even on the biggest stages, it creates such powerful moments." Another described the look as channeling "early 90’s death, metal, grunge, rock in Seattle."
Yungblud wore black leather pants and matching boots, accessorized with gunmetal jewelry, including a belt buckle, bracelets and necklaces. His hair was combed back with a few strands framing his face, and he wore heavy eyeliner. He posed alongside Taylor Momsen on the carpet; photographs showed both performers exposing their torsos as part of their entrance.
The appearance preceded Yungblud’s scheduled performance at the VMAs, in which he was to deliver a tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne. Osbourne, 76, died on July 22. Yungblud and Osbourne met in 2022 and had described a close relationship; media reports say Yungblud gave a reading at Osbourne’s funeral and performed at the metal icon’s farewell concert at Villa Park in Birmingham in June. Yungblud’s tribute was among a number of performances on a show that also featured Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Mariah Carey, Jelly Roll, Post Malone, Tate McRae and J Balvin.
The 2025 VMAs marked the ceremony’s first broadcast on the CBS network and a simulcast on MTV, with streaming available on the premium tier of Paramount+. LL Cool J served as host. The night also included a high-profile return by Lady Gaga, who led the nominations with 12 nods, followed by Bruno Mars with 11 and Kendrick Lamar with 10. Gaga was nominated for Video of the Year with Bruno Mars for "Die With a Smile" and was expected to perform.
Presenters included Ciara, Ashlee Simpson Ross, Drew Barrymore, Jessica Simpson, Nikki Glaser, Paris Hilton, Livvy Dunne and Ice Spice. The awards show continued to serve as a platform for a wide range of genres and artists, from pop and hip-hop to rock and alternative acts.
Yungblud’s red carpet moment underscored the VMAs’ longstanding connection to provocative fashion and performance. Reactions on social platforms illustrated the split between audience members who view such displays as authentic expressions of an artist’s persona and those who see them as attention-seeking or concerning. The show proceeded with scheduled tributes, performances and awards through the evening at UBS Arena.