Ariana Grande was playfully strangled by Sabrina Carpenter backstage at the MTV VMAs in New York on Sunday following their ‘frosty’ reunion earlier in the evening.
The Wicked star, 32, stunned in a strapless gown as the equally glam Espresso singer, 26, wrapped her hand around her neck in a bizarre embrace.
During the lengthy ceremony, Ariana, who won two awards on the night, was accused of shading Sabrina. The viral clip showed the two women hugging and chatting while backstage during the awards show.
But when Sabrina, who bagged three trophies, went to embrace Ariana a second time, the actress failed to put her arms around, making for a slightly uncomfortable interaction.
Elsewhere Ariana cosied up to a very leggy Mariah Carey, 56, after presenting her with the coveted Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
The All I Want For Christmas singer flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a tiny gold sequinned bodysuit which she teamed with matching knee-high boots.
Ariana Grande (R) was playfully strangled by Sabrina Carpenter (L) backstage at the MTV VMAs in New York on Sunday following their ‘frosty’ reunion earlier in the evening
Elsewhere Ariana cosied up to a very leggy Mariah Carey , 56, after presenting her with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
During the lengthy ceremony, Ariana was accused of shading Sabrina as an awkward encounter between them was caught on camera
Fans were quick to discuss the seemingly tense moment between Ariana and Sabrina, with some accusing the Glinda actress of being ‘fake’ and speculating that she wasn’t too fond of the Please Please Please singer.
Casino.ca’s body language expert Judi James analysed the moment exclusively to the Daily Mail, and she noted that the ‘partial hug’ certainly looked ‘frosty.’
‘[Ariana] holds her arms out for a frosty-looking partial hug that has ‘brakes’ on it via the holding of the elbows,’ Judi explained.
‘There is a small dance on the spot with excitement but it is rather low-key compared to the kind of fan-like hand kissing she performed on Lady Gaga.’
Even so, Judi added that the God Is a Woman hitmaker kept her ‘cool’ and came off as ‘professional.’
‘Ariana performed many acts of fan-like lowered status and respect tonight but the body language signals from her greeting ritual with Sabrina tonight suggested she retained her own status while keeping it rather cool,’ she continued.
‘The body language looks professional here … but with the elbow-clutching the suggestion is that these two stars don’t know each other very well.’
Meanwhile Despite her legend status, Mariah couldn’t escape the wrath of VMA viewers as they accused her of doing the ‘bare minimum’ on stage.
The Wicked star, 32, stunned in a strapless gown as the equally glam Espresso singer, 26, wrapped her hand around her neck in a bizarre embrace
Earlier in the evening when Sabrina went to embrace Ariana a second time, the actress failed to put her arms around, making for a slightly uncomfortable interaction
Fans were quick to discuss the seemingly tense moment with some accusing the Glinda actress of being ‘fake’
Casino.ca’s body language expert Judi James analysed the moment exclusively to the Daily Mail, and she noted that the ‘partial hug’ certainly looked ‘frosty’
‘The body language looks professional here … but with the elbow-clutching the suggestion is that these two stars don’t know each other very well.’
Mariah flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a tiny gold sequinned bodysuit which she teamed with matching knee-high boots.
Ariana was full of emotion as she honoured Mariah with the much sought after award
She even got down on her knees to praise the songstress
But despite her legend status, Mariah couldn’t escape the wrath of VMA viewers as they accused her of doing the ‘bare minimum’ on stage
After accepting the Video Vanguard Award she performed a medley of her hits, including Sugar Sweet, Fantasy, Honey, Obsessed, and It’s Like That
MTV Video Music Awards 2025 winners: AT A GLANCE
Video of the Year: Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Best Pop: Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Artist of the Year: Lady Gaga
Best Collaboration: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
Ariana Grande earned top honor Video of the Year for Brighter Days Ahead
Best Album: Sabrina Carpenter – Short N Sweet
Best Pop Artist: Sabrina Carpenter
Song of the Year: Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt
Best New Artist: Alex Warren
MTV Push Performance of the Year: Katseye – Touch
MTV Video Vanguard Award: Mariah Carey
Latin Icon Award: Ricky Martin
Rock The Bells Visionary Award: Busta Rhymes
After accepting the Video Vanguard Award she performed a medley of her hits, including Sugar Sweet, Fantasy, Honey, Obsessed, and It’s Like That.
But the hitmaker was mocked on social media afterwards, as hordes of fans felt her performance was lackluster.
Many X users called her out for seeming ‘stiff’ and walking extremely slowly around the stage, while others accused her of lip syncing.
‘Mariah Carey being introduced as the queen of vocals and she’s just lip syncing…’ one user wrote.
‘Mariah Carey doing the least possible movement,’ noted another.
‘Mariah stay giving us the bare minimum,’ penned someone else.
‘Mariah out here all stiff and s**t… Girl if you got back problems tell ’em you can’t perform…’ read a fourth tweet.
A fifth said, ‘Mariah just existing on stage.’
‘Mariah don’t be moving at all,’ scathed a different person.
Ariana shocked as she triumphed over Lady Gaga and ended the night by earning top honuor for Video of the Year for Brighter Days Ahead.
It was quite the surprise result as she faced stiff competition including: Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather, Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile, Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt., Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild, and The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – Timeless.
Meanwhile in one of her many outfit changes of the evening Doja Cat (L) turned heads in a quirky sculpted mini dress as she took her seat alongside FKA Twigs (R)
FKA put on her own daring display as she went braless in a tiny two piece
The pair chatted intently during the star-studded show
Ariana shocked as she triumphed over Lady Gaga and ended the night by earning top honuor for Video of the Year for Brighter Days Ahead
Sabrina Carpenter earned three including Best Album for Short n’ Sweet
Lady Gaga earned four including Best Collaboration with Bruno Mars
Ariana concluded her acceptance speech with a sweet message about optimism.
She said: ‘This project is about the hard work that is healing all different kinds of drama and coming home to our young selves including safety and our own lives which is a lifelong process on a daily exercise.
‘If you’re on their journey please continue because I promise there are brighter days ahead. This is ridiculous.’
The top honour was the second award Ariana earned as earlier in the evening she took home Best Pop also for Brighter Days Ahead.
She hitmaker triumphed over Alex Warren – Ordinary, Ed Sheeran – Sapphire, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile, Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt., and Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild.
She was emotional during her acceptance speech as she said: ‘Thank you so much. Oh, my god. This is so kind. Thank you so much. I was so nervous. I have to start by saying thank you so much to my fans. I’m going to cry.
‘I think I broke this. I think I broke it. I have to say thank you first and foremost my fans. I love you with every fiber of my being.’
Ariana made sure to acknowledge the entire team behind her music video as she named several members of the cast and crew which no one else did the entire night.
She concluded her speech by saying: ‘I love making this record with you more than anything in the entire world. It was life-changing, thank you for championing me as a songwriter and producer. I love you so much. Thank you to my therapist. And gay people, I love you.’
MTV Video Music Awards 2025 winners in full
Video of the Year, Presented by Burger King®
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead – WINNER
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – Timeless
Ariana Grande earned the top honor of Video of the Year for Brighter Days Ahead
Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Beyoncé
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga – WINNER
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Song of the Year
Alex Warren – Ordinary
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Doechii – Anxiety
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Gracie Abrams – I Love You, I’m Sorry
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
Lorde – What Was That
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt. – WINNER
Tate McRae – Sports Car
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – Timeless
Rose won Song of the Year alongside Bruno Mars for Apt.
Best New Artist
Alex Warren – WINNER
Ella Langley
Gigi Perez
Lola Young
Sombr
The Marías
Best Pop Artist
Ariana Grande
Charli XCX
Justin Bieber
Lorde
Miley Cyrus
Sabrina Carpenter -WINNER
Tate McRae
MTV Push Performance of the Year, Presented by Bacardí® Rum
Ayra Starr – Last Heartbreak Song
Damiano David – Next Summer
Dasha – Bye Bye Bye
Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
Jordan Adetunji – Kehlani
Katseye – Touch – WINNER
Lay Bankz – Graveyard
Leon Thomas – Yes It Is
Livingston – Shadow
Mark Ambor – Belong Together
Role Model – Sally, When the Wine Runs Out
Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Best Collaboration, Presented by Under Armour
Bailey Zimmerman & Luke Combs – Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – Luther
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile – WINNER
Post Malone Featuring Blake Shelton – Pour Me a Drink
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – Sunset Blvd
Lady Gaga earned four including Best Collaboration with Bruno Mars
Best Pop
Alex Warren – Ordinary
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead – WINNER
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Best Hip-Hop
Doechii – Anxiety – WINNER
Drake – Nokia
Eminem Featuring Jelly Roll – Somebody Save Me
Glorilla Featuring Sexyy Red – Whatchu Kno About Me
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
LL Cool J Featuring Eminem – Murdergram Deux
Travis Scott – 4×4
Best R&B
Chris Brown – Residuals
Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – Mutt (Remix)
Mariah Carey – Type Dangerous – WINNER
PartyNextDoor – No Chill
Summer Walker – Heart of a Woman
SZA – Drive
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – Timeless
Best Alternative
Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
Imagine Dragons – Wake Up
Lola Young – Messy
MGK & Jelly Roll – Lonely Road
Sombr – Back to Friends – WINNER
The Marías – Back to Me
Best Rock
Coldplay – All My Love – WINNER
Evanescence – Afterlife (From the Netflix Series “Devil May Cry”)
Green Day – One Eyed Bastard
Lenny Kravitz – Honey
Linkin Park – The Emptiness Machine
Twenty One Pilots – The Contract
Best Latin
Bad Bunny – Baile Inolvidable
J Balvin – Rio
Karol G – Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido
Peso Pluma – La Patrulla
Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos – Khé?
Shakira – Soltera – WINNER
Best K-Pop
Aespa – Whiplash
Jennie – Like Jennie
Jimin – Who
Jisoo – Earthquake
Lisa Featuring Doja Cat & Raye – Born Again – WINNER
Stray Kids – Chk Chk Boom
Rosé – Toxic Till the End
Best Afrobeats
Asake & Travis Scott – Active
Burna Boy Featuring Travis Scott – TaTaTa
Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – Shake It to the Max (Fly) (Remix)
Rema – Baby (Is It A Crime)
Tems Featuring Asake – Get It Right
Tyla – Push 2 Start – WINNER
Wizkid Featuring Brent Faiyaz – Piece of My Heart
Best Country
Chris Stapleton – Think I’m in Love With You
Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood – I’m Gonna Love You
Jelly Roll – Liar
Lainey Wilson – 4x4xU
Megan Moroney – Am I Okay? – WINNER
Morgan Wallen – Smile
Best Album
Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos
Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Lady Gaga – Mayhem
Morgan Wallen – I’m the Problem
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet – WINNER
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Sabrina Carpenter earned three including Best Album for Short n’ Sweet
Best Long Form Video
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead – WINNER
Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos (Short Film)
Damiano David – Funny Little Stories
Mac Miller – Balloonerism
Miley Cyrus – Something Beautiful
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Video for Good
Burna Boy – Higher
Charli XCX – Guess Featuring Billie Eilish – WINNER
Doechii – Anxiety
Eminem Featuring Jelly Roll – Somebody Save Me
Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco – Younger and Hotter Than Me
Zach Hood Featuring Sasha Alex Sloan – Sleepwalking
Best Direction
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Charli XCX – Guess Featuring Billie Eilish
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra – WINNER
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Best Art Direction
Charli XCX – Guess Featuring Billie Eilish
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra – WINNER
Lorde – Man of the Year
Miley Cyrus – End of the World
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Best Cinematography
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us – WINNER
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Miley Cyrus – Easy Lover
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Best Editing
Charli XCX – Guess Featuring Billie Eilish
Ed Sheeran – Sapphire
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching (From F1® the Movie) – WINNER
Tate McRae earned her first two Moon Persons
Best Choreography
Doechii – Anxiety – WINNER
FKA twigs – Eusexua
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Tyla – Push 2 Start
Zara Larsson – Pretty Ugly
Best Visual Effects
Ariana Grande – Brighter Days Ahead
Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Rosé & Bruno Mars – Apt.
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild – WINNER
Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching (From F1® the Movie)
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Best Group
Aespa
All Time Low
Backstreet Boys
Blackpink – WINNER
Coldplay
Evanescence
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Frontera
Imagine Dragons
Jonas Brothers
Katseye
The Marías
My Chemical Romance
Seventeen
Stray Kids
Twenty One Pilots
Song of the Summer
Addison Rae – Headphones On
Alex Warren – Ordinary
Benson Boone – Mystical Magical
BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman – All the Way
Chappell Roan – The Subway
Demi Lovato – Fast
Doja Cat – Jealous Type
Huntr/x – Golden
Jessie Murph – Blue Strips
Justin Bieber – Daisies
Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – Shake It to the Max (Fly) (Remix)
Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae – What I Want
Ravyn Lenae Featuring Rex Orange County – Love Me Not
Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
Sombr – 12 to 12
Tate McRae – Just Keep Watching (From F1® the Movie) – WINNER
MTV Video Vanguard Award: Mariah Carey – WINNER
Mariah Carey earned her first ever VMA as she was honored with Video Vanguard
Latin Icon Award: Ricky Martin – WINNER
Rock The Bells Visionary Award: Busta Rhymes – WINNER
