Despite not even being in attendance, Britney Spears’s presence was undoubtedly felt at last night’s MTV VMAs in New York.
From start to finish, the VMAs was packed full of references to Britney’s career, from clips of her performances playing in the pre-show reels to a recreation of one of her most iconic fashion moments during the actual ceremony.
To kick things off, Tate McRae — who’s copped comparisons to Britney — paid homage to one of her idols by wearing a black lace Roberto Cavalli dress inspired by the Dolce & Gabbana number Britney wore at the VMAs in 2001.
During the ceremony, host Megan Thee Stallion had her very own Britney moment when she stepped out in a green bikini with a live python draped around her waist, which is, of course, a callback to Brit’s legendary performance of “I’m A Slave 4 U” at the 2001 ceremony.
Sabrina Carpenter also took inspiration from Britney in her performance. In the transition between “Please Please Please” and “Taste,” fans noticed that Sabrina sampled the spoken word section that plays in Britney’s 2000 track, “Oops!… I Did It Again.”
Of course, it makes sense that artists would pay homage to Britney, who — along with other legends like Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé — has been widely credited with producing some of the most iconic moments in VMAs history.
Her 2001 “Slave 4 U” performance — complete with live exotic animals — inspired Halloween outfits for decades to follow. And who could forget her onstage kiss with Madonna?
On X, fans relished each Britney reference throughout the ceremony, calling attention to how much she “shaped” the show as we know it today.
As you’ll probably be aware, Britney has opted to lay low and enjoy her freedom since her conservatorship was terminated in November 2021 after nearly 14 years. However, it’s safe to say there’s no shortage of love for the pop icon.
