Highlights
- Madonna called out Sabrina Carpenter at the VMAs, claiming her team ignored her for five days before she sent a DM.
- The pop icon won seven awards but forgot what she won on stage, requiring Charli XCX to step in and save the moment.
- Madonna recalled her infamous 1984 VMA performance, joking about a wardrobe malfunction and her former manager.
Madonna hijacked the Video Music Awards, dominated the stage, and aired out dirty industry laundry before even picking up a trophy.
Accepting the Best Collaboration award alongside Sabrina Carpenter, the Queen of Pop decided to publicly expose her co-star’s management for ignoring her. “Everybody who knows me knows how impatient I am,” Madonna declared to the bewildered crowd.
The pop legend didn’t stop there, revealing the precise timeline of their duet. “When five days passed, and I still didn’t get connected with Sabrina and hear back from her about whether she wanted to do a song with me, I DM’d her,” Madonna said. She added, “She answered me back, and within weeks we were in the studio together. It was fabulous.”
Madonna took another jab at the industry, noting that “in this day and age, it’s really hard to find professional people to work with.” A visibly shocked Carpenter jumped in to defend her handlers while addressing the censors.
Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter accept their award for Best Collaboration at the #VMAs. pic.twitter.com/D01siYOdAY
— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 28, 2026“My team is s***ting themselves backstage,” Carpenter joked, adding, “My team replies, just so everybody knows… but I respond faster.”
The night only grew more chaotic as Madonna took home seven awards, including Best Dance, and completely forgot why she was on stage. “I’m kind of unclear what this award is for,” she admitted, looking lost. “I guess it’s for the short film?”
Charli XCX had to step in, reopen the golden envelope, and politely remind Madonna which award she had actually won. Madonna quickly recovered, turning to Charli and Troye Sivan. “Well, I feel good surrounded by people who like dance – Charli and Troye,” she said.
She then launched into an emotional rant about her history in the club scene. “I came to life on the dance floor. I found my community on the dance floor. I fell in love with people on a dance floor. And I lost many people I loved on the dance floor,” Madonna proclaimed. “Aside from soccer, football – whatever you wanna call it. Dance brings everybody together, okay?”
Reflecting on her history with MTV, Madonna reminded the audience of her infamous 1984 appearance. “Some of you were probably not born—I think most of you were probably not born—but I performed at the first MTV Awards 43 years ago,” she said.
Madonna brings out Sabrina Carpenter during her #VMAs performance pic.twitter.com/W4wtSaEAZS
— Variety (@Variety) September 27, 2026“And my dress went up, and my butt cheek was hanging out, and in those days, butt cheeks were not hanging out,” she recounted. “My manager told me that my career was over. That is the truth. Not my manager, now. No. He was the assistant to the manager.”
After spending the last year and a half “finding herself” and “really making the music” she wanted, Madonna proved she still owns the room. As the duo exited hand-in-hand, Madonna announced they were “gonna go back there and have a drink or something.” Carpenter could only manage a thrilled, “Um, everybody ― Madonna!”
Madonna brings out Charli xcx during her #VMAs performance pic.twitter.com/fBzA6A7zt9
— Variety (@Variety) September 27, 2026
