The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards were set alight not just by the performances on stage, but by a simmering backstage drama that has sent the pop world into a frenzy. All eyes were on two of music's biggest stars, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter, whose alleged frosty reunion became the talk of the night.
The tension reportedly stemmed from Sabrina Carpenter's show-opening performance, a glittering spectacle widely interpreted as a tribute to the iconic Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey. While the homage was lauded by many viewers, sources suggest it did not sit well with Grande, a longtime and famously devoted 'lamb' of Mariah.
A Chilling Backstage Encounter
According to eyewitnesses, the atmosphere turned glacial when the two pop titans crossed paths after the show. Grande, 31, was reportedly less than thrilled with Carpenter's rendition and allegedly gave the younger singer a stone-cold stare before turning her back, an interaction described as a clear and deliberate snub.
The incident has set social media ablaze, with fans of both artists dissecting every frame of available footage. Many have pointed to Grande's well-documented, years-long admiration for Carey, suggesting a sense of protectiveness over the legend's legacy.
A History of Comparison
This is not the first time the two singers have been thrust into the same narrative. Both possess powerful, whistle-register vocals that have often drawn comparisons to Mariah Carey herself. This shared trait has, for years, fueled fan debates and media speculation about a quiet rivalry, though nothing has ever been publicly confirmed by either camp.
The VMAs incident, however, has poured petrol on those rumours. The perceived slight suggests that behind the scenes, the competition may be more palpable than previously thought.
Social Media Erupts
Twitter and TikTok have become battlegrounds for 'Arianators' and 'Carpenters', with the hashtag #VMAdrama trending for hours. Clips of the alleged snub have gone viral, amassing millions of views and thousands of comments debating the authenticity and severity of the interaction.
Whether this was a simple misunderstanding, a moment of misread body language, or the culmination of a long-simmering professional tension remains to be seen. Neither Grande nor Carpenter has publicly commented on the reports, leaving the world to speculate on the true nature of pop music's latest cold war.
