Olivia Rodrigo's 2023 MTV VMAs Performance Includes Explosive Fake-Out — Watch Video

By Andy Swift
Olivia Rodrigo VMAs 2023 MTV screenshot

Olivia Rodrigo spilled her Guts on Tuesday, rocking the 2023 MTV VMAs with a performance of her new single "Vampire," spooking many viewers in the process.

When set pieces began to fall, causing several sparks on stage, many watching from home — plus a few celebs in the audience — wondered if a malfunction was going to bring Rodrigo's performance to a halt. As it turns out, however, the stunt was all part of crafting an unforgettable moment. And isn't that was the VMAs are all about?

Watch footage of Rodrigo's performance via the tweet below, which we'll replace with an official video if/when it becomes available:

Despite her fairly recent arrival onto the scene, Rodrigo already has a long history with the VMAs, beginning with the three awards she took home in 2021: Best New Artist, and Song of the Year and Push Performance of the Year for "Drivers License." She has also received seven additional nominations during her young career, including Artist of the Year (2021), Song of the Summer ("Good 4 U"), Video of the Year ("Brutal") and Best Pop Video ("Traitor").

Rodrigo entered this year's ceremony with five more nominations, all for "Vampire": Video of the Year, song of the Year, Best Pop Video, Best Editing and Best Cinematography.

This is also not the first time that Rodrigo has performed on this prestigious stage. The former High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star made her VMA debut in 2021 with a performance of "Good 4 U."

Prior to Rodrigo's meteoric rise in the music industry, she played Nina Salazar-Roberts (aka "Nini") on the Disney+ mockumentary High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. She remained a series regular through its first two seasons (2019–2021), then departed midway through Season 3 (2022), and remained M.I.A. for its fourth and final installment earlier this year.

Of course, Rodrigo was just one major performer at Tuesday's VMAs, which also featured highly anticipated performances from Anitta, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Demi Lovato, Diddy, DMC, Doja Cat, Doug E. Fresh, Fall Out Boy, Future, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, Måneskin, Nicki Minaj, Peso Pluma, Shakira, Stray Kids, and Tomorrow X Together.

Hosted by Minaj, this year's VMAs were broadcast live from Newark, N.J.'s Prudential Center. Frontrunner Taylor Swift entered the ceremony with 11 nominations, followed by SZA in second with six nods, plus five for Minaj, Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Kim Petras, Miley Cyrus and Sam Smith.

Hit PLAY on the video above to watch Rodrigo's VMA performance, then grade it via our poll below and drop a comment with your full review.

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