VMAs viewers urge organizers to 'pull the plug' on award show after being plagued by problems: 'It feels like a funeral'
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Viewers of the MTV Video Music Awards have urged organizers to 'pull the plug' on the award show after it was riddled with issues.
This year's VMAs, hosted by Snoop Dogg, returned to the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday night.
Taylor Swift, Lisa Rinna and Adam Lambert were all among the famous faces to take to the red carpet.
But despite a series of live performances from artists such as Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter and Shaboozey, it seems as though enthusiasm for the annual fixture is dying out.
Many former fans took to X to share their concern about the 'boring' event, adding that they struggled to see a future for it.
'Getting the feeling this might be the last VMAs,' one viewer wrote.
'There's no shame in bowing out gracefully. Gotta read the room,' another added.
'I thought it was just me, this sh** is boring,' shared a third, before someone else wrote, in part: 'Honestly the VMAs have felt like a funeral for years.'
Viewers of the MTV Video Music Awards have urged organizers to 'pull the plug' on the award show after it was riddled with issues
'We say this every single year. Honestly just pull the plug,' one penned.
Addressing MTV directly, another simply asked: 'What was that?'
This year's broadcast was plagued with issues from the outset.
Fans hoping to watch the iconic opening of the show were left furious when they tuned into the network airing the program and found the Cowboys vs Ravens NFL game playing instead.
'Hold tight, the 2026 #VMAs will take off after the football game finishes. Live, coming up on CBS and streaming on Paramount+!' the official VMAs X account wrote in an update – much to the chagrin of fans.
The awards show did not start playing on the network until roughly 7.50pm, 20 minutes late, after the initial performance had finished and the first award had been given out.
There were also a series of music industry titans who failed to show up for the proceedings entirely such as Ariana Grande, Zara Larsson, Olivia Rodrigo and Lady Gaga - to name just a few.
Elsewhere, Madonna was torched for her 'utterly unfocused' comeback performance with many accusing her of lip-syncing as well as sharing their fears that she was seemingly out of breath onstage.
There were also a series of music industry titans who failed to show up for the proceedings entirely such as Zara Larsson
Olivia Rodrigo (left) and Ariana Grande (right) also failed to show up at this year's VMAs
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Later, the 68-year-old star sensationally forgot what award she was on stage to accept from Charli XCX and Troye Sivan.
'What is this for, again?' she quipped after winning Best Dance for Confessions II – The Film, before Charli XCX opened the announcement card to jog her memory.
She then bizarrely announced how she had a laser 'stuck' up her posterior before leaving the stage in bizarre scenes.
Additionally, there were also several categories excluded from this year's telecast – including for Song of the Year.
This also sparked outrage on social media as one fan mocked: 'Excluding awards from an award show?'
Another added: 'Why didn't they include Song of the Year??? SH**TY AWARD SHOW.'
The MTV Video Music Awards have been running for 42 years since their inception in 1984.
It has produced some iconic moments over the years, from Madonna's famous on-stage kiss with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in 2003 to Lady Gaga's meat dress in 2010.
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