Yungblud drew attention on the red carpet at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards when the British rocker went shirtless in a bid to make a dramatic entrance, prompting mixed reactions from fans and observers.
The 28-year-old performer, born Dominic Richard Harrison, arrived at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, wearing black leather pants and boots and accessorized with gunmetal-toned jewelry. He initially wore a black leather sherpa jacket, which he discarded on the carpet before turning to photographers with both arms outstretched, one knee bent and a series of posed expressions. His look included heavy eyeliner and slicked-back black hair with a few strands left to frame his face.
Social media responses to the stunt were sharply divided. Some users expressed concern, with one comment calling the appearance "a literal mess," while others praised the display as on-brand and evocative of rock and grunge aesthetics. A number of posts compared his styling to characters from 1990s pop culture, while other commentators hailed the entrance as a powerful, authentic moment for the musician. Yungblud posed on the carpet alongside Taylor Momsen and was accompanied at the event by his girlfriend, Jesse Jo Stark.
Yungblud was on the VMAs bill to perform a tribute to late metal icon Ozzy Osbourne. The singer developed a close relationship with Osbourne after meeting him in 2022, and he reportedly delivered a reading at Osbourne's funeral. Osbourne died July 22 at age 76, and Yungblud also joined the lineup at the artist's farewell concert at Villa Park in Birmingham in June.
The 2025 VMAs were held at UBS Arena and aired on CBS, with a simulcast on MTV and streaming on the premium tier of Paramount+. LL Cool J hosted the ceremony. The event featured a wide range of musical performances and honors: Lady Gaga won Artist of the Year, Ariana Grande took Video of the Year for "Brighter Days Ahead," Mariah Carey received the Video Vanguard Award, Ricky Martin was named the Latin Icon Award recipient, and Busta Rhymes was honored with the Rock The Bells Visionary Award.
Producers and attendees at the VMAs presented the night as both a celebration of current pop and a platform for tributes to established figures. Yungblud's shirtless red carpet moment came amid that broader program, generating immediate discussion online about image, tribute performance and the boundaries of celebrity spectacle at major award shows.