The 2025 VMAs was finally a bit good again, thanks to a lineup of performers that you actually care about. Lady Gaga, literally the goddess of the VMAs did a couple of numbers, Mariah Carey did a medley, Sabrina Carpenter performed with a load of Drag Race icons and Tate McRae ate down. But a number of big celebs did not show up for the VMAs 2025 – even if they were nominated – so here’s a quick rundown of why some of these big names snubbed the proceedings.
Taylor Swift
Taylor was nominated for only one award at the VMAs this year – Artist of the Year. This year, that prize went to Lady Gaga who was actually in attendance despite the fact she was on stage at Madison Square Gardens a few hours later for her Mayhem tour. It’s not fully clear why Taylor didn’t show up, but she’s kept quite a low profile since announcing her engagement to Travis Kelce. She’ll likely do a big return next year after her upcoming album The Life of a Showgirl releases October 3rd.
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Charli XCX
Charli XCX was nominated for five awards at the VMAs 2025, but she was one of the big celebs who snubbed the ceremony this year. She’s not been to the VMAs since 2021, in fact. Charli got a nomination for Best Pop Artist, as well as her smash hit Guess with Billie Eilish getting nominations for Video For Good, Best Direction, Best Art Direction and Best Editing. It won for Video For Good.
Charli XCX was last seen promoting her film Sacrifice at a Gucci event – as well as last week promoting her film Erupcja. She was at the Toronto Film Festival – so maybe was just too locked in to the film circuit to make the VMAs this year.
Shakira
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Despite the fact that Shakira won an award at the VMAs 2025, she didn’t actually attend the awards. She was the celebrated recipient of the Vanguard award in 2023 and mad a big impression with her attendance that year. This year however, she’s in the middle of a global tour and couldn’t make the VMAs because she had a scheduled concert in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Gracie Abrams (and Paul Mescal)
Gracie Abrams was nominated for an award for Sone of the Year – unfortunately for her it actually went to Bruno Mars and Rosé for APT over her That’s So True. The better song won there, let’s face it. Paul Mecal, Gracie’s fella, was actually at the Toronto International Film Festival promoting his new movie Hamnet. It’s unclear if Gracie was with him or was just chilling after a hectic summer of touring and doing a big Glasto set.
Addison Rae
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Addison Rae was famously quite a bit snubbed at the VMAs 2025, and she was one of the celebs who didn’t show up this year. Not only this but she’s been vocal about her disappointment about not getting as much recognition as she expected. Headphones On got a Song of the Summer nom, but her incredible album didn’t get a shout out and neither did any of the videos. She didn’t not turn up because she was bitter, though – she was booked and busy with the Berlin tour date of her tour.
Addison previously said to Zane Lowe on her record getting snubbed: “Not everybody was gonna accept it and enjoy it, but I think I will never let that change the way I view creating, and making music videos or making songs and putting out different organisations of music and groups of creative decisions.
“It definitely is funny whenever you feel like you put in a lot of work into something and it doesn’t get recognised by some place that you feel like you were contributing to.
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Featured image via David Fisher / C Flanigan / imageSPACE / Michael Hurcomb / Shutterstock
