Pop Girls of Today Reference Their Elders on VMAs Red Carpet
by Bethy Squires · VULTUREThe MTV Video Music Awards celebrated its 40th anniversary on September 11, and the stars got historical with their red-carpet looks. Read on for the latest homage in Sabrina Carpenter’s medley.
Two Madonnas walk into the VMAs
September 11: Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, Addison Rae, and GloRilla all donned throwback looks on the VMAs black carpet. GloRilla’s ensemble matched that of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes’s in the “No Scrubs” music video. McRae channeled Britney Spears in a lace turtleneck mini, echoing a look Spears wore to the 2001 VMAs. It’s fitting, given that Spears interviewed McRae in May. Sabrina Carpenter wore the exact same Bob Mackie as Madonna when the latter attended the 1991 Oscars. The Material Girl was escorted to the Academy Awards by Michael Jackson. Real missed opportunity for a corresponding outfit from Barry Keoghan. Addison Rae’s Madonna homage was slightly more oblique, with a bikini and tulle à la Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” outfit at the very first VMAs. Madonna had less boob padding, but the reference still landed.
Oops, Sabrina did it again
September 11: Sabrina Carpenter threw in one more VMAs reference during her performance. She added the dialogue between Britney Spears and that astronaut from the “Oops! … I Did It Again” music video before going into “Taste.” Sidenote: fascinating to include that song when you’re performing in front of Shawn and Camilla.
Meg the Stallion also showed up in full “Slave 4 U” drag, snake and all. She … did not like the snake.