Despite viewers believing Megan Thee Stallion and Justin Timberlake clashed backstage at the MTV Video Music Award, it turns out everybody had the wrong end of the stick.
Viral footage from last night's awards show had fans buzzing on X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter). Although both music icons graced the VMA stage - much to the delight of fans - it was a backstage video that really got people talking.
Megan, the 28-year-old rap sensation, was caught on camera getting ready for her performance when 42-year-old pop legend Timberlake passed by her. The footage showed what appeared to be a heated moment between the two. Megan was seen pointing her finger towards the 'Cry Me A River' singer, who appeared to just walk away.
The seemingly heated confrontation sparked an internet frenzy of speculation. Check out the moment below:
One fan weighed in with a sizzling take, writing: "Did Justin Timberlake say something to piss off Megan Thee Stallion? We still haven't forgiven you for what you did to Janet Jackson. Do we have a problem?" (This comment was a direct reference to the infamous 2004 NFL Halftime show incident where Timberlake revealed Janet Jackson's breast.)
Another posted: "[I don't know] what Meg and Justin were arguing about, but I'm on her side #VMAs".
"WHY ARE MEGAN AND JUSTIN ARGUING I GOTTA KNOW," added another.
The Real Story: No Bad Blood, Only Good Vibes
However, before you start choosing sides, a backstage source has told Variety that the interaction between Megan Thee Stallion and Justin Timberlake was not dramatic -- Far from it, in fact.
“There was zero fight,” the source began. "He said, ‘It’s so nice to meet you,’ and she said ‘No, no, this don’t count, this don’t count. We gotta meet proper.’ It was very cute.”
While neither artist has officially commented on the viral video, the inside scoop highlights how easily snippets of interaction can be misunderstood, especially when they're taken out of context.
Megan Thee Stallion wasn't just the talk of the behind-the-scenes action. During last night's show, she also teamed up with Cardi B for a show-stopping performance that left the audience in awe. Cardi herself couldn't help but gush about Megan on the red carpet. “She’s just a beautiful person,” Cardi exclaimed. “She’s amazing. I don’t really fuck with a lot of people, but she’s one of the people I mess with.”
Before jumping to conclusions, it’s essential to wait for the full story — especially when it comes to interpreting silent, 30-second video clips circulating on social media.
