MTV Video Music Awards

Behind these black bangs and altered look is an unforgettable California gal ready to play and slay in her cupcake bra. Given the clues, put your celeb knowledge on the line and see if you've got the skills to score the unknown celeb.

One hot mama ... she's been bloomin' on stage since the mid-2000s and recently flew through the air during her MTV VMA performance. While this singer may no longer be an idol, perhaps she'll still kiss a girl and ... she'll like it! She's the one with the cherry chapstick!

Jack Antonoff has heard the criticism about his earplug use at the 2024 MTV VMAs, and has offered up a response to his haters.

The music producer offered up a sarcastic apology online Thursday evening after he was put on blast for protecting his ears during Katy Perry's performance at the awards show this week.

While some fans accused Jack of being "disrespectful" to Katy by popping in some noise-canceling plugs, the Grammy winner made it clear the situation was blown out of proportion ... and roasted those who took his earplug use so seriously.

Jack Antonoff is getting slammed as "disrespectful" after he put in earplugs during Katy Perry’s performance at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards … 7 years after his infamous banana drama.

Here’s what went down … Katy took to the stage at the UBS Arena in New York Wednesday evening, where she performed a medley of her greatest hits before accepting the show’s coveted Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

While the consensus online was that KP killed it in her VMAs performance, one person seemed less than impressed with her act … as the music producer was caught on the audience camera slipping some noise-canceling plugs into his ears.

The 2024 Video Music Awards were full of shocking moments and good vibes ... and, the celebs in attendance kept those good times rolling after the show ended -- congregating for a star-studded after-party.

Taylor Swift led the bold-faced names into the New York City party with her third outfit change of the night ... opting for a mini skirt paired with a corset and jacket, similar to the UFO-themed dress she wore earlier.

Sabrina Carpenter -- winner of the Song of the Year VMA, her first -- channeled her inner Dolly Parton ... white mesh dress and platform heels, matching her fierce white nails.

Jordan Chiles' Wednesday got a whole lot better thanks to Flavor Flav ... 'cause hours after she was in tears over her lost Olympic medal -- the rapper gifted her a custom bronze clock that cheered her up right away.

Flav waited for the perfect moment to dole out the present to the Team USA gymnastics star -- at the VMAs in New York City, while the two were on stage presenting an award.

Flavor Flav turned to Chiles mid-speech and told her, "I know they tried to take your medal away. But you know what? I got you something that they can't take away from you."

The MTV Video Music Awards shook things up this year with a venue change, a ton of A-list celebrities and some extra wild moments ... including Sabrina Carpenter lip-locking with a female space alien at the UBS Arena in Elmont, NY.

Chappell Roan caused a stir on the red carpet, putting a photog on blast ... then literally set the stage on fire with a passionate performance of her hit, "Good Luck Babe."

Eminem had millennials feeling nostalgic ... his performance of "Houdini" saw him surrounded by look-alikes, a throwback to the VMAs 24 years ago. He also performed his collab "Somebody Save Me" with Jelly Roll guest-appearing on the big screen.

Sabrina Carpenter, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello lit up the VMAs with their performances ... serving up a juicy love triangle playlist that had everyone reading between the lines.

Sabrina was in her zone Wednesday night, belting out "Taste" right in front of Shawn -- awkward, as the song’s rumored to be all about him ditching her for Camila after their short-lived fling.

Shawn then followed with a performance of "Nobody Knows," with lyrics like “flying too close to the sun” -- an apparent nod to Camila’s IG bio, which reads, “long, thick black hair turned white from flying too close to the sun.”

Taylor Swift took home a big win at the MTV Video Music Awards Wednesday night – but the biggest winner was her BF Travis Kelce who wasn't even in the room!

The pop megastar snagged the VMA for Video of the Year for her tune, "Fortnight," and was handed her trophy by none other than the show's host Megan Thee Stallion.

Taylor stepped up to the mic onstage to give a speech thanking the people who helped her create the music video.

Taylor Swift is doing it all at the 2024 MTV VMAs ... looking stunning and winning awards.

The singer turned heads upon her highly-anticipated arrival Wednesday night at the UBS Arena just outside New York City ... and she didn't waste time adding to her mantle.

Taylor's already won the VMA for song of the summer before even getting to the venue ... and once she was there, she got the hardware for best collaboration for "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone.

Britney Spears is getting some serious love at the 2024 MTV VMAs ... with Megan Thee Stallion and Tate McRae paying homage to a couple of Britney's iconic award moments.

MTS enlisted an albino python to recreate Britney's "Slave 4 U" moment from the 2001 VMAs ... and she did her best to copy Britney's outfit too.

Megan wasn't as comfortable around the snake as Britney, though ... and she quickly called for help shedding the python from her body, and ran away.

The MTV Video Music Awards are off to a rousing start with Chappell Roan and a photographer getting into an angry exchange ... featuring plenty of F bombs!

The singer, who's already put overzealous fans on notice, took verbal aim at the photog as she and other celebs entered the UBS Arena just outside NYC.

Chappell was getting ready to pose for pics when you hear someone in the crowd yelling, "Shut the f*** up," and something about Chappell turning around.

Saweetie was all the way tapped in at Billboard's Women in Music last night with zero signs of stage fright ... a triumph after she went viral for struggling on the podium at another event.

TMZ Hip Hop obtained video of Saweetie inside the YouTube Theater booming with confidence in a sultry black split dress as she presented an artist with an Impact Award.

Saweetie wasn't the only one dazzling in a slinky wardrobe -- just ask Katy Perry, who tantalized the Billboard blue carpet in a g-string thong ... but the night was all about female empowerment.

Saweetie showed love to all the women in the room ... Ice Spice, Victoria Monet and Coco Jones, were definitely doing it for her.

She also put her USC degree to use and wooed the audience with a little Spanish speaking ... her shout-outs for Miko, Karol G and Bad Bunny even earned her brownie points with the crowd!!!

Britney Spears says a brief run-in with ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake triggered a panic attack before her infamously bad 2007 MTV VMA performance.

Britney was set for a big return to the stage that night with her song "Gimme More" ... but was caught off guard when she saw JT at the show.

In her new memoir, "The Woman In Me," Britney recalls the interaction, writing ... "It had been a while since I'd seen him. Everything was going great in his world. He was at the top of his game in every way, and he had a lot of swagger. I was having a panic attack."

Britney says she "hated the way I looked" ... because "It was less than a year since I'd had my second baby in two years but everyone was acting like my not having six-pack abs was offensive."

What's more, Britney admits she hadn't rehearsed enough and knew the performance "was going to be bad." She says "nothing was going right" backstage ... claiming there were problems with her costume and hair extensions. She says she didn't sleep the night before, and was feeling dizzy.

Britney continued ... "I couldn’t believe I was going to have to go out onstage feeling the way I felt." She says she went out and tried her best, admitting it wasn't up to par for her.

She added ... "I could see myself on video throughout the auditorium while I performed; it was like looking at myself in a fun-house mirror."

JT, on the other hand, was on the other end of the spectrum in Britney's eyes.

She says, "Justin glided down the runway. He was flirting with girls in the audience, including one who turned around and arched her back, shaking her breasts as he sang to her."

Britney Spears alarmed a lot of people with her knife dance on Instagram, with many looking for answers as to what inspired the dangerous act, and some believe Shakira holds the key.

As we reported, Britney shared a clip of herself Monday with the caption, "I started playing in the kitchen with knives today," dancing and clanking the knives together -- even jabbing them in the air.

The singer claimed the blades weren't legit, but they sure didn't sound like props based on the way they hit together.

However, Shakira recently did something pretty similar -- on national television, no less -- and folks think that's where Britney got the inspo.

In case ya missed it, the Colombian pop star gave a show-stopping performance of some of her greatest hits at the MTV VMAs earlier this month ... and at one point, she danced while both of her hands were occupied by 2 thick daggers.

It appears Shakira was paying homage to an Arabic dance, known to some as the dance of the daggers ... and people online think Britney loved what she saw, so that's why she may have tried it out for herself.

Britney's been catching some heat for her video ... and as we've reported, Britney has a fascination with knives that makes her clip a bit more concerning.

Remember, those responsible for Britney's care made a list of recommendations as her conservatorship ended -- with 1 major point being to keep knives away from her.

Sources have told us Britney sees knives as a type of protection, afraid she'd be re-institutionalized ... and we were told she keeps them all around her house, including her bedroom.

Do you think Britney Spears is a danger to herself? Vote below.