Selena Gomez had a ball at Tuesday’s MTV Video Music Awards — till she went on-line.
The “Calm Down” singer was all smiles on the ceremony after profitable within the Finest Afrobeats class alongside Nigerian artist Rema — and being cheered on by longtime bestie Taylor Swift — however left the Prudential Middle in New Jersey to search out herself the unwitting face of a number of viral social media moments.
“I’ll by no means be a meme once more,” wrote Gomez over a black background in an Instagram story early Wednesday morning after the MTV ceremony concluded. “I’d quite sit nonetheless than be dragged for being myself. A lot love.”
Gomez didn’t elaborate on the matter, however presumably alluded to widespread images of her reactions on the ceremony proliferating on-line. Footage of the singer covering her ears throughout Olivia Rodrigo’s efficiency, as an example, racked up practically 100,000 likes.
The “Solely Murders within the Constructing” actor was additionally spotted scrunching her nose as Chris Brown, who physically assaulted Rihanna in 2009, was named as a nominee for Finest R&B. Social media customers also noted her expression as Nicki Minaj was being launched.
Whereas Gomez initially poked enjoyable at herself that evening and posted an Instagram story of her and Swift embracing with a caption that learn, “She appears gorgeous I look constipated,” she was clearly pissed off her reactions have been getting used on-line to fan potential feuds.
Swift in the meantime, who tied the document for most VMAs in one night with 9 trophies, was universally lauded for her reactions. Footage of the “Anti-Hero” singer joyously dancing as Gomez won her award was broadly shared on X, the platform previously referred to as Twitter.
Gomez, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2018, has been very open in regards to the damaging psychological well being results of social media. She took several breaks from her online presence over time, and asked users to be kinder earlier this 12 months.
The singer was all smiles whereas accepting a VMA, nonetheless, and shocked in a lacy crimson Oscar de la Renta costume whereas celebrating her and Rema’s win for “Calm Down” — the first African artist-led track to hit 1 billion Spotify streams — and thanked her followers in a real speech.
“Thanks for believing in me,” she told Rema onstage.
“And thanks for selecting me to be part of such an unimaginable track that’s been in a position to break data,” she continued. “Thanks to all of you for listening, for streaming. I couldn’t be extra honored. And I wanna ship all my like to Nigeria.”