Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga set the tone at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night with career-defining moments of their own.

Grande scored two honors — video of the year and best pop video — and had the audience buzzing when she thanked her “therapists and gay people” during her acceptance speech.

Gaga, the night’s top nominee, kicked things off by winning artist of the year before later delivering on her promise to perform. She hit the stage at Madison Square Garden after her acceptance speech, which sent the audience into a frenzy at the UBS Arena where the VMAs were being held. • Ariana Grande accepts the award for best pop for "Brighter Days Ahead" during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) •

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