Unexpected Moments and Notable Omissions at the 2023 MTV VMAs.

 The glitzy spectacle of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, which unfolded at Newark's Prudential Center on September 12, delivered its share of anticipated triumphs and unexpected twists. Taylor Swift stood as the night's undeniable star, clinching the top honors of Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Artist of the Year, a testament to her phenomenal year.

Swift's accomplishments included her chart-topper "Anti-Hero" reigning supreme on the Hot 100 for an impressive eight weeks, while her albums "Midnights" and "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" both soared to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Notably, her Eras stadium tour was nothing short of a resounding success. Swift's reign extended to toppling the mighty Beyoncé in three categories – Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Show of the Summer, although Beyoncé still holds the record for the most career VMAs, boasting 30 awards when counting Destiny's Child and The Carters. Swift now claims second place on the all-time winners list, notching an impressive 23 awards, thanks to her nine wins this year, while Beyoncé's tally remained unchanged.

Nicki Minaj, serving as the evening's emcee, predictably secured the Best Hip-Hop award for her chart-topping hit "Super Freaky Girl" on the Hot 100, marking her fifth triumph in the category. SZA's victory in the Best R&B category with "Shirt" was hardly a surprise, considering the enduring success of her SOS album on the Billboard 200. Likewise, Rema and Selena Gomez's win in the newly introduced Best Afrobeats category for "Calm Down" was in line with expectations, given the song's ascent to No. 3 on the Hot 100.

Nevertheless, the awards ceremony had its share of genuine snubs and unexpected outcomes:

**Snub: Miley Cyrus**

Despite amassing an impressive six nominations, second only to Swift and SZA, Cyrus came away empty-handed. Nine years ago, her iconic "Wrecking Ball" had secured the Video of the Year award. Meanwhile, two other artists with six nominations each merely received one technical award – Doja Cat for Best Art Direction and Olivia Rodrigo for Best Editing.

**Surprise: Måneskin**

The Italian band delivered an unexpected twist by winning the Best Rock award for "The Loneliest," triumphing over rock heavyweights like Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Metallica. Notably, both Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers had previously been honored with the Global Icon Award in 2021 and 2022.

**Snub: Sam Smith and Kim Petras**

Despite their No. 1 Hot 100 hit "Unholy" racking up five nominations, it failed to secure a single win. The song had etched its name in history as the first Hot 100 chart-topper by both a non-binary artist (Smith) and a trans artist (Petras). It was widely expected to clinch an award, but Swift's dominance proved insurmountable.

**Surprise: Global Pop**

A remarkable ten VMAs celebrated international acts, with five hailing from South Korea alone. Blackpink triumphed as Group of the Year and earned accolades for Best Choreography with "Pink Venom," while Jungkook secured the Song of the Summer award for "Seven" featuring Latto. Tomorrow x Together's stellar "Sugar Rush Ride" was recognized as the Push Performance of the Year, and Stray Kids claimed the Best K-pop honor for "S-Class." Awards also found their way to artists from Colombia, Italy, Brazil, and Nigeria.

**Snub: Bad Bunny**

Curiously, despite the Best Latin category being featured since 2018, Bad Bunny has remained without a win. He's garnered seven nominations in the past five years but has yet to claim the coveted award. The fact that he competed with himself twice might have influenced these outcomes.

**Surprise: Karol G and Shakira**

Karol G and Shakira's collaborative gem, "TQG," emerged victorious in the all-genre Best Collaboration category, triumphing over formidable contenders like David Guetta & Bebe Rexha's "I'm Good (Blue)" and Rema & Selena Gomez's "Calm Down." It was a surprising win, especially considering that Smith and Petras were conspicuously absent from this category for their hit collaboration "Unholy," despite it being the sole collaboration nominated for Video of the Year. This omission may have played a role in Karol G and Shakira's well-deserved victory.