Ariana Grande is 'strangled' by Sabrina Carpenter following their 'frosty' reunion with Mariah Carey
By GERAINT LLEWELLYN,
Ariana Grande was playfully strangled by Sabrina Carpenter backstage at the MTV VMAs in New York on Sunday following their 'frosty' reunion earlier in the evening.
The Wicked star, 32, stunned in a strapless gown as the equally glam Espresso singer, 26, wrapped her hand around her neck in a bizarre embrace.
During the lengthy ceremony, Ariana, who won two awards on the night, was accused of shading Sabrina. The viral clip showed the two women hugging and chatting while backstage during the awards show.
But when Sabrina, who bagged three trophies, went to embrace Ariana a second time, the actress failed to put her arms around, making for a slightly uncomfortable interaction.
Elsewhere Ariana cosied up to a very leggy Mariah Carey, 56, after presenting her with the coveted Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
The All I Want For Christmas singer flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a tiny gold sequinned bodysuit which she teamed with matching knee-high boots.
Ariana Grande (R) was playfully strangled by Sabrina Carpenter (L) backstage at the MTV VMAs in New York on Sunday following their 'frosty' reunion earlier in the evening
Elsewhere Ariana cosied up to a very leggy Mariah Carey , 56, after presenting her with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
During the lengthy ceremony, Ariana was accused of shading Sabrina as an awkward encounter between them was caught on camera
Fans were quick to discuss the seemingly tense moment between Ariana and Sabrina, with some accusing the Glinda actress of being 'fake' and speculating that she wasn't too fond of the Please Please Please singer.
Casino.ca's body language expert Judi James analysed the moment exclusively to the Daily Mail, and she noted that the 'partial hug' certainly looked 'frosty.'
'[Ariana] holds her arms out for a frosty-looking partial hug that has 'brakes' on it via the holding of the elbows,' Judi explained.
'There is a small dance on the spot with excitement but it is rather low-key compared to the kind of fan-like hand kissing she performed on Lady Gaga.'
Even so, Judi added that the God Is a Woman hitmaker kept her 'cool' and came off as 'professional.'
'Ariana performed many acts of fan-like lowered status and respect tonight but the body language signals from her greeting ritual with Sabrina tonight suggested she retained her own status while keeping it rather cool,' she continued.
'The body language looks professional here ... but with the elbow-clutching the suggestion is that these two stars don't know each other very well.'
Meanwhile Despite her legend status, Mariah couldn't escape the wrath of VMA viewers as they accused her of doing the 'bare minimum' on stage.
The Wicked star, 32, stunned in a strapless gown as the equally glam Espresso singer, 26, wrapped her hand around her neck in a bizarre embrace
Earlier in the evening when Sabrina went to embrace Ariana a second time, the actress failed to put her arms around, making for a slightly uncomfortable interaction
Fans were quick to discuss the seemingly tense moment with some accusing the Glinda actress of being 'fake'
Casino.ca's body language expert Judi James analysed the moment exclusively to the Daily Mail, and she noted that the 'partial hug' certainly looked 'frosty'
'The body language looks professional here ... but with the elbow-clutching the suggestion is that these two stars don't know each other very well.'
Mariah flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a tiny gold sequinned bodysuit which she teamed with matching knee-high boots.
Ariana was full of emotion as she honoured Mariah with the much sought after award
She even got down on her knees to praise the songstress
But despite her legend status, Mariah couldn't escape the wrath of VMA viewers as they accused her of doing the 'bare minimum' on stage
After accepting the Video Vanguard Award she performed a medley of her hits, including Sugar Sweet, Fantasy, Honey, Obsessed, and It's Like That
MTV Video Music Awards 2025 winners: AT A GLANCE
Video of the Year: Ariana Grande - Brighter Days Ahead
Best Pop: Ariana Grande - Brighter Days Ahead
Artist of the Year: Lady Gaga
Best Collaboration: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With a Smile
Ariana Grande earned top honor Video of the Year for Brighter Days Ahead
Best Album: Sabrina Carpenter - Short N Sweet
Best Pop Artist: Sabrina Carpenter
Song of the Year: Rosé & Bruno Mars - Apt
Best New Artist: Alex Warren
MTV Push Performance of the Year: Katseye - Touch
MTV Video Vanguard Award: Mariah Carey
Latin Icon Award: Ricky Martin
Rock The Bells Visionary Award: Busta Rhymes
After accepting the Video Vanguard Award she performed a medley of her hits, including Sugar Sweet, Fantasy, Honey, Obsessed, and It's Like That.
But the hitmaker was mocked on social media afterwards, as hordes of fans felt her performance was lackluster.
Many X users called her out for seeming 'stiff' and walking extremely slowly around the stage, while others accused her of lip syncing.
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'Mariah Carey being introduced as the queen of vocals and she's just lip syncing...' one user wrote.
'Mariah Carey doing the least possible movement,' noted another.
'Mariah stay giving us the bare minimum,' penned someone else.
'Mariah out here all stiff and s**t... Girl if you got back problems tell 'em you can't perform...' read a fourth tweet.
A fifth said, 'Mariah just existing on stage.'
'Mariah don't be moving at all,' scathed a different person.
Ariana shocked as she triumphed over Lady Gaga and ended the night by earning top honuor for Video of the Year for Brighter Days Ahead.
It was quite the surprise result as she faced stiff competition including: Billie Eilish - Birds of a Feather, Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With a Smile, Rosé & Bruno Mars - Apt., Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild, and The Weeknd & Playboi Carti - Timeless.
Meanwhile in one of her many outfit changes of the evening Doja Cat (L) turned heads in a quirky sculpted mini dress as she took her seat alongside FKA Twigs (R)
FKA put on her own daring display as she went braless in a tiny two piece
The pair chatted intently during the star-studded show
Ariana shocked as she triumphed over Lady Gaga and ended the night by earning top honuor for Video of the Year for Brighter Days Ahead
Sabrina Carpenter earned three including Best Album for Short n' Sweet
Lady Gaga earned four including Best Collaboration with Bruno Mars
Ariana concluded her acceptance speech with a sweet message about optimism.
She said: 'This project is about the hard work that is healing all different kinds of drama and coming home to our young selves including safety and our own lives which is a lifelong process on a daily exercise.
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'If you're on their journey please continue because I promise there are brighter days ahead. This is ridiculous.'
The top honour was the second award Ariana earned as earlier in the evening she took home Best Pop also for Brighter Days Ahead.
She hitmaker triumphed over Alex Warren - Ordinary, Ed Sheeran - Sapphire, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With a Smile, Rosé & Bruno Mars - Apt., and Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild.
She was emotional during her acceptance speech as she said: 'Thank you so much. Oh, my god. This is so kind. Thank you so much. I was so nervous. I have to start by saying thank you so much to my fans. I'm going to cry.
'I think I broke this. I think I broke it. I have to say thank you first and foremost my fans. I love you with every fiber of my being.'
Ariana made sure to acknowledge the entire team behind her music video as she named several members of the cast and crew which no one else did the entire night.
She concluded her speech by saying: 'I love making this record with you more than anything in the entire world. It was life-changing, thank you for championing me as a songwriter and producer. I love you so much. Thank you to my therapist. And gay people, I love you.'
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