The most dramatic night in the celebrity calendar has been and gone. The MTV VMAs are usually chock-a-block with shade, chaos, and shocking moments, but this year’s ceremony has gone off without a hitch.
A bunch of the biggest A-listers in the game attended the bash in New Jersey, but it didn’t take long for fans to notice that Ariana Grande – one of the most nominated artists of the night – wasn’t at the venue.
The reason for Ariana’s no-show is pretty simple. On Sunday, she headlined Manchester Pride in what marked her first performance in the city since the Manchester bombing of 2017.
During the performance, she said: “Manchester holds a very special place in my heart. I’m so happy to be with you, so thank you for having me. Sorry, I’m so nervous. I had so much more to say but I’m really very overwhelmed. So thank you.”
It would’ve made no logical sense for the 26-year-old to jump on a plane back to the States for the ceremony considering she has another concert in Paris, France, lined up on the evening of the 27th.
Ariana ended up winning three gongs at the VMAs, including Artist Of The Year, Best Art Direction for ‘7 Rings’, and Song Of Summer for ‘Boyfriend’.
Kevin Mazur//Getty Images
The awards show has meant a lot to her in the past. Last year, she made her red-carpet debut with Pete Davidson at the event and performed an incredible rendition of ‘God Is A Woman.’
Here’s hoping she can make it next year.
