Olivia Rodrigo tricks the crowd into believing that there was a stage malfunction during her performance at MTV VMAs 2023… and even Selena Gomez was fooled
Just days after releasing her second studio album Guts, Olivia Rodrigo had fun with her fans during her performance at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
The 20-year-old singer was the second performer of the night, after Lil Wayne, and performed her new hit Vampire on stage at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The California native took to the stage dressed as a forest, with the singer rocking a red bra and matching skirt for the song.
After the song started playing, Rodrigo stood up as fireworks went off all around her, which seemed to startle the singer as fake tree branches and a red curtain fell from the stage as a VMA stage hand quickly led her off stage. .
In fact, when she was taken off stage, Selena Gomez looked quite distraught as the stage went dark and briefly transitioned to her hit Good For U before starting to perform another new hit, Get Him Back, flanked by some singers dressed in pink. -dancers.
Olivia: Just days after releasing her second studio album Guts, Olivia Rodrigo had fun with her fans during her performance at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards
Opening: After the song started, Rodrigo stood up as pyrotechnics went off all around her, seeming to startle the singer as fake tree branches and a red sheet fell from the stage as a VMA stage hand quickly led her away stage
Distraught: When she was taken off stage, Selena Gomez actually looked quite distraught as the stage went dark and briefly transitioned to her hit Good For U before starting to perform another new hit, Get Him Back, flanked by a number of pink-clad singer-dancers
Although the staged disruption seemed to worry Gomez, many fans on social media weren’t so fooled.
“Olivia Rodrigo really traumatized Selena Gomez with her fake stage malfunction during her performance…Selena will never go to an awards show again,” said Twitter user @sweeterheavens.
@rnbgirlies tweeted: “The way Selena Gomez was concerned about Olivia Rodrigo during her Vampire appearance.”
@SGomezNewsComs clarified that Gomez’s reaction was to the “planned PHASE DISRUPTION,” adding that Gomez was “confused, scared and worried about Olivia because she didn’t know it was planned.”
While some fans seemed to think Gomez was reacting to the song, others, like @logicaIvi, said, “the stage wouldn’t work properly and Selena didn’t know so she was worried.”
@Gibsonoma quoted a retweet from an outlet claiming the response was to Olivia’s performance, adding: “This is completely unfair and out of context: Olivia pretended her set broke and half exploded while she faked off stage was rushed and Selena responded, probably thinking something was really going wrong.”
@highbritt asked: ‘Is the stage really that messed up or was that part of the skit?’
@Dripmarvelshort added, “A stage malfunction forces the stagehand to lead Olivia Rodrigo offstage during her MTV #VMAs.”
Staged: Although the staged disruption seemed to worry Gomez, many fans on social media weren’t so fooled
Fake: ‘Olivia Rodrigo really traumatized Selena Gomez with her fake stage malfunction during her performance… Selena will never go to an awards show again,’ said Twitter user @sweeterheavens
Concerned: @rnbgirlies tweeted: ‘The way Selena Gomez was worried about Olivia Rodrigo during her Vampire appearance’
Planned: @SGomezNewsComs clarified that Gomez’s reaction was to the “planned PHASE DISRUPTION,” adding that Gomez was “confused, scared and worried for Olivia because she didn’t know it was planned.”
Supposed: While some fans seemed to think Gomez was reacting to the song, others, like @logicaIvi, said, “the stage wouldn’t work properly and Selena didn’t know so she was worried”
Dishonest: @Gibsonoma quoted a retweet claiming the response was to Olivia’s performance, adding: ‘This is completely unfair and out of context: Olivia pretended her set broke and semi-exploded while she faked it stage was rushed and Selena reacted to that and probably thought something was really wrong.”
Reason: @francinaaa_ asked: ‘So was that separate from the performance or not?’
Ruined: @highbritt asked: “Is the stage really that ruined or was that part of the skit?”
Stage: @Dripmarvelshort added: ‘Stage malfunction forces stagehand to lead Olivia Rodrigo off stage during her MTV #VMAs’
Rodrigo has not yet publicly commented on whether or not the stage malfunction was staged.
The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The show will be hosted by rap royalty Nicki Minaj, marking her second straight year in the role. It is the first time that the ceremony takes place on Tuesday.
Broadcast live in more than 150 countries, this global, fan-packed extravaganza honors the best music videos of the past year with unforgettable performances, epic tributes and breathtaking performances from music’s biggest stars.