A decade-old video of Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez reacting to Miley Cyrus’s infamous 2013 VMA performance recently went viral again, giving fans a hilarious blast from the past.
The split-screen footage captures the pop stars’ stunned responses as 20-year-old Cyrus controversially twerked on 36-year-old Robin Thicke during their raunchy “Blurred Lines” duet. In one corner, Cyrus grinds suggestively in latex underwear, while the other shows Swift, 23, and Gomez, 21, transitioning from enjoyment to shock.
When Cyrus begins twerking, Swift and Gomez gasp, clapping hands over their mouths. Swift clutches the arm of her seatmate in disbelief before embracing a wide-eyed Gomez. Though they ultimately cheer the performance, their horrified reactions stole the show.
The video resurfaced on the 10-year anniversary of the boundary-pushing VMA moment that sparked endless debate. “Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift reaction to Miley’s 2013 VMA’s performance will always be iconic,” posted a fan account, earning 1.1 million views.
Fans celebrated Swift’s amused support, contrasted with Gomez’s stunned dismay. “Taylor was always living for extra performances,” one user commented. Others noted the double standard Cyrus faced as a former Disney star exploring her sexuality.
Rumors swirled afterwards that Swift disapproved, allegedly calling Cyrus’s act “disgusting.” But the singer’s rep denied this, and footage shows she enthusiastically applauded. Cyrus still seemingly responded in Rolling Stone: “It’s not the Grammys. You’re not supposed to show up in a gown. It’s supposed to be fun!”
The viral throwback sparked nostalgia for a time when Cyrus, Swift, and Gomez ruled the charts as pop ingenues. Ironically, both Cyrus and Gomez plan new song releases on the VMAs anniversary. For fans, the silly footage offered a lighthearted reminder of an era when controversy could be laughed off.
Looking back, the overblown backlash against Cyrus seems slightly ridiculous compared to today’s anything-goes musical landscape. Records like Cardi B’s “WAP” make Cyrus’s performance seem quaint. But at the time, she shattered expectations for a Disney child star.
While jarring then, the clip now plays as just another viral meme. And Swift’s exaggerated reactions capture the absurdity of the non-scandal. The rediscovered video proves some things haven’t changed in 10 years – youth idols rebelling, awards shows designed to shock, and Taylor Swift being an entertained spectator to music drama.
