Katy Perry caused quit the stir at the VMAs last night, picking up the award show’s lifetime achievement award and performing a host of her biggest hits in the process.
The TGIF superstar was handed the accolade by none other than her fiancé, Orlando Bloom, after he’d given a touching speech in which he described Perry as a “global superstar who brings love, light, and her unique sense of humor to every song she writes.”
Before accepting the VMA Video Vanguard award, Perry performed a medley of her most popular numbers, including Teenage Dream, I Kissed a Girl, and E.T. At one point during her setlist, the 39-year-old gave the audience a taste of one of her newer tracks, I’m His, He’s Mine, featuring rapper Doechii.
And the duo sent ripples across the internet when they got extremely close as part of the song’s choreography, going so far as to share a kiss on stage.
Needless to say, said kiss spread like wildfire online, but it wasn’t just internet denizens who were quick to react. No, pop song powerhouse Taylor Swift was actually at the VMAs – held in New York – and her reaction happened to be caught on camera.
Footage captured from the POV of an audience member shows Swift dancing along to the hit, before stopping abruptly to watch Perry and Doechii share their kiss.
Swift can then be seen turning around, mouth agape, and laughing before joining the rest of the audience in cheering the on-stage duo on.
Watch the vid here:
Given that Swift is arguably the most famous person in the world at the moment it’s hardly a surprise that her reaction to Perry’s kiss was talked about on social media almost as much as the kiss itself was.
“Even she was GAGGED,” one person wrote on Twitter.
“She’s so real for this,” another added.
“She had our reaction,” chimed a third.
“Her reaction is priceless,” wrote fourth.
A fifth offered: “Taylor’s reaction was priceless! It’s always fun to see genuine moments of surprise and excitement.“
ELMONT, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 11: Taylor Swift attends the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Perry gave an emotional speech upon receiving her award, highlighting the knowledge and tips that have allowed her to retain a place at the music industry’s top table for so long.
“Thank you so much to MTV for believing in my weirdness from day one, and for helping artists extend their worlds beyond a song. There are so many things that have to align to have a long and successful career as an artist. There are no decade-long accidents,” the 39-year-old said.
“I’m excited when I look around music today and I see all the amazing young artists who are operating with confidence, agency, vulnerability and authenticity.
“I’ve heard a lot of do this, don’t do that, wear less, wear more now, don’t cut your hair… one of the biggest reasons I’m standing here right now is I learned how to block out all the noise, that every single artist in this industry has to constantly fight against, especially women.
Katy Perry in the press room at the MTV Video Music Awards 2024 held at the UBS Arena in New York. Picture date: Wednesday September 11, 2024. (Photo by Doug Peters/PA Images via Getty Images)
“I just want to say with my whole heart, do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and true to your art, turn off social media, safeguard your mental health, pause, touch grass, and do what you were born to do, just like I was born to do this.”
What did you make of Taylor Swift’s reaction to Katy Perry’s on-stage kiss? Let us know in the comments.
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