Selena Gomez Says She Will Never Be A Meme Again
Selena Gomez attends the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey.
Selena Gomez doesn’t want to be a meme anymore and is warning people to stop making her go viral. The singer won an award for Best Afrobeats at Tuesday (September 12) night’s MTV Video Music Awards. Gomez and Rema won for their song, “Calm Down.” During the VMAs, Gomez was seen on camera in the audience reacting to moments during the awards show. The singer and actress, 31, took to her Instagram Story hours after the show ended and made a declaration. “I will never be a meme again. I’d rather sit still than be dragged for being myself. Much love.”
Gomez’s post comes after a photo of her fully wrapped up in a cozy blanket became a viral meme. The candid picture was taken by her friend Dominic J West. He shared on his Instagram Story over the weekend of August 14. As the shot went viral, Gomez responded by reposting two of her favorite memes on her Instagram Story, as reported by Elle. One of these read: “horror movie characters sitting in the back of an ambulance after almost dying.” A second penned alongside a black and white version of the photo: “my mom just sent me this old picture of my abuela from when she was still living in mexico, this was taken during a year without rain.”
Her recent viral photo
The Only Murders In The Building star went viral again earlier this month, this time for her wide-eyed reaction to soccer star Lionel Messi during a game in Los Angeles. In a video shared by Major League Soccer’s official social media account, Gomez is seen staring intensely before being left wide-eyed and open-jawed at John McCarthy’s save. The star also shared a snap of her expression on her Instagram Story, writing “Mood” over the photo. Watch the moment below.
2023 MTV VMAs Hottest Red Carpet Looks
The 2023 MTV VMAs took place at Newark, New Jersey’s Prudential Center Tuesday (September 12) night. Nicki Minaj returns to “host” and perform, marking the second time the “Barbie World” rapper will take the stage. According to a source at MTV familiar with the awards show, no one can labeled as a “host” because of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. In addition to Minaj’s emceeing duties, she’ll also perform her newest single, “Last Time I Saw You” for the very first time.
Sean “Diddy” Combs will be honored with the Global Icon Award and perform his greatest hits. The artist will receive the third-ever Global Icon Award, which MTV says “celebrates an artist or band whose unparalleled career and continued influence have achieved a unique level of global success in music and beyond.” Shakira will receive the Video Vanguard Award and will also perform at the awards show for the first time since 2006. Performances by Olivia Rodrigo, Demi Lovato, Doja Cat, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Fall Out Boy, Måneskin and K-Pop boy band Stray Kids are among the artists set to take the stage.
Taylor Swift leads the nominations this year with eight nods altogether, followed by six for SZA. For the coveted Video of the Year, Swift’s “Anti-Hero” will face off against SZA’s “Kill Bill,” Doja Cat’s “Attention,” Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers,” Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl,” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” and Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy.”
The 39th annual awards show begins at 8 p.m. ET, broadcast simultaneously on VH1, MTV2, Comedy Central, CMT, BET, BET Her, Paramount Network, and Nickelodeon. Those who use streams can tune in live on DirecTV and Paramount+ apps. The first MTV Video Music Awards show took place on September 14, 1984
and was hosted by Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Take a look below at the hottest looks of the VMA red carpet.
Laila Abuelhawa is the Top 40 and Hip-Hop pop culture writer for Beasley Media Group. Being with the company for over three years, Laila's fierce and fabulous red-carpet rankings have earned her a feature on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert!' Her favorite stories are those surrounding the latest in celebrity fashion, television and film rankings, and how the world reacts to major celebrity news. With a background in journalism, Laila's stories ensure accuracy and offer background information on stars that you wouldn't have otherwise known. She prides herself in covering stories that inform the public about what is currently happening and what is to come in the ever-changing, ever-evolving media landscape.
