Why the MTV VMAs — once the hottest awards show around — don’t matter anymore
had a viral moment — before “viral moments” even existed — during the opening number when Madonna kissed both Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.Seemingly in shock — just like the rest of us — Spears’ then-fresh ex Justin Timberlake looked on awkwardly from the Radio City Music Hall audience.And 10 years ago, at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Miley Cyrus infamously twerked upon Robin Thicke during a performance that forever unblurred the lines between the former Disney darling and Hannah Montana.But Cyrus — despite having one of the biggest songs of 2023 in “Flowers” — is, at press time, just one of the top pop stars who is not even slated to appear at this Tuesday’s MTV VMAs, which will take place a New Jersey Transit hike away from the buzz and bright lights of New York City at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ for the second year in a row (and third time since 2019).Unless any major surprises happen, though, Cyrus — who is up for five Moon Persons — is in good company as a VMAs no-show with her fellow superstar nominees Beyoncé, Drake, Harry Styles, The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran.Even six-time nominee SZA — who, with her No. 1 smash “Kill Bill,” has had the kind of killer year that used to guarantee a big VMAs splash — is paying them dust.