Award-Show Moments
The kiss, the interruption, the wrong envelope and the slap. The live-TV moments people still bring up.
Live TV plus giant egos equals moments nobody forgets.
2003 VMAs
The kiss
During the opening performance, Madonna kisses Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. It was the shock moment of the year.
2004 Super Bowl
The wardrobe malfunction
During the halftime show, Justin Timberlake tears Janet Jackson’s outfit on live TV. Janet’s career takes the hit far more than his, and he apologizes publicly in 2021. It’s also often credited as part of the inspiration for YouTube, because people couldn’t find the clip online.
2009 VMAs
‘Imma let you finish’
Kanye West grabs the mic from Taylor Swift. The full saga is in the Beefs track.
2011 VMAs
The baby reveal
After performing "Love on Top", Beyoncé unbuttons her jacket and rubs her belly. Pregnant with Blue Ivy. The internet explodes.
2014 Oscars
The selfie
Ellen DeGeneres’s star-packed selfie briefly crashes Twitter.
2015–2016 Oscars
#OscarsSoWhite
Two years in a row of all-white acting nominees spark the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag and push the Academy to diversify its voters.
2017 Oscars
The wrong envelope
La La Land is announced as Best Picture. Mid-speech, it turns out Moonlight actually won. The presenters had been handed the wrong envelope.
2022 Oscars
The slap
After a joke about his wife Jada, Will Smith walks on stage and slaps Chris Rock. He wins Best Actor later that night, then gets banned from Academy events for 10 years.
2024 Grammys
Jay-Z calls it out
Accepting an honor, Jay-Z points out that Beyoncé has more Grammys than anyone but has never won Album of the Year.
2025 Grammys
Finally
Beyoncé wins Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter.
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