The 2024 MTV VMAs: Flaming Arrows, Medieval Knights, and the Pop Girlie Takeover
The MTV Video Music Awards have always prided themselves on spectacle over subtlety—and the 2024 edition fully leaned into that legacy, delivering a show that was theatrical, surreal, and gloriously camp. Gone are the days of rockstar brawls and testosterone-fueled antics. This year, the VMAs felt more like a pop-inspired WrestleMania, complete with flaming arrows, glitter swings, aliens, and homages to VMA lore.
Chappell Roan Sets the Stage Ablaze—Literally
Best New Artist winner Chappell Roan delivered a show-stopping performance of her breakout hit "Good Luck, Babe", entering the stage in full medieval armor and wielding a flaming crossbow. With one dramatic shot, she set the stage on fire—literally. Behind her, dancers dressed as armored knights executed precise sword choreography, turning the performance into a fantasy epic. Her act epitomized the evening's embrace of theatricality and maximalism.
Sabrina Carpenter's Intergalactic Medley
Pop princess Sabrina Carpenter kept the surreal visuals coming with a medley of her recent hits, starting from a glittery swing chair and transitioning to a moonscape filled with dry ice. Accompanied by a dancing astronaut and alien, she gave the crowd a cosmic dance party. More astronauts popped up to breakdance during “Espresso,” cementing her role as one of pop’s most imaginative live performers.
Katy Perry’s Career-Spanning Comeback
Katy Perry, taking a brief hiatus from her highly anticipated new album rollout, accepted the prestigious Video Vanguard Award—MTV’s lifetime achievement honor. She delivered a bonkers medley of past hits, flanked by massive inflatable silver wings and a sci-fi stage featuring what looked like a swirling interdimensional portal. Her performance was pure pop fantasy, earning a standing ovation and a proud, if slightly awkward, round of applause from her partner Orlando Bloom, who was caught on camera clapping like a proud dad at a school play.
The Return of Iconic VMA Moments
This year’s show wasn’t just about new music—it was also about paying homage to VMA history. Megan Thee Stallion turned heads with a giant python draped over her shoulders, a nod to Britney Spears' legendary 2001 "I’m A Slave 4 U" performance. Meanwhile, Eminem made a rare appearance alongside a full squad of blonde-wigged lookalikes, referencing his 2000 VMAs moment for "The Real Slim Shady."
Surprisingly, Lady Gaga’s infamous meat dress from 2010 stayed in the fridge this time—likely a nod to growing cultural shifts (and the rise of veganism), but a moment many fans still hoped to see revived.
Taylor Swift Makes History
The night’s biggest winner was undoubtedly Taylor Swift, who took home seven awards, officially becoming the most decorated artist in VMAs history with 30 astronaut trophies to her name. During her acceptance speech, she offered a rare glimpse into her personal life, thanking boyfriend Travis Kelce for his unwavering support:
“Whenever I said ‘cut’, I would always just hear someone cheering from across the studio—and that one person was my boyfriend, Travis.”
Swift’s dominance served as a symbol of how female artists are firmly in control of the modern pop landscape.
A Feminine Future for Pop Music
If the VMAs once belonged to brawling rockstars and backstage drama—like the infamous 1989 Vince Neil vs. Izzy Stradlin fight or Kanye West’s 2009 interruption of Taylor Swift—those days are clearly in the past. In 2024, men took supporting roles. Eminem was one of the only male performers of the night. Elsewhere, men stood by the sidelines, celebrating their partners: from Orlando Bloom’s proud clapping to Travis Kelce’s studio cheers.
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And it worked. The show was camp, confident, and cohesive in its celebration of pop women at their most creative and unhinged. It felt like an awards show put together by the internet’s most imaginative fans, with the budget to match.
Final Thoughts: The VMAs’ Evolution Is Complete
This year’s VMAs weren't just another awards show—they were a celebration of where pop culture is now: bold, female-led, self-referential, and unafraid to be ridiculous. The transition from testosterone-heavy chaos to high-camp spectacle may have taken a few decades, but in 2024, the VMAs finally found their true identity.
And if this year’s pyrotechnic-laced, python-draped, intergalactic knight-fest is any indication, that identity is in very good (and very sparkly) hands.
