2 years ago / 11:04 PM EDT

'Taylor Swift directed by Taylor Swift' wins

Swift is now tied for the most best direction awards in VMAs history, winning the award for her hit single "Anti-Hero."

Taylor Swift accepts the best pop award for "Anti-Hero" at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, N.J., on Tuesday.Mike Coppola / Getty Images for MTV

She won the award last year for "All Too Well: The Short Film" and once more in 2020 for "The Man." It's gotta feel good for Swift, who recently said she aspires to direct a feature film one day.

It was Swift's third win tonight.

2 years ago / 11:03 PM EDT

Remember when we thought the show was supposed to end by now ...

2 years ago / 11:01 PM EDT

Taylor Swift is just here to have fun

My favorite part of an awards night is when "drunk Taylor" starts to trend on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.

Now listen, we don't know what she was drinking.

But what's clear to us Swifties is she's just a girl in her 30s having a great night with friends — and her fans are loving it. The official Taylor Nation account retweeted a video of her struggling to get a drink out of her cupholder earlier with the caption "she's swift af boi."

Clips and screenshots of her dancing and cheering on her peers made the rounds online as fans celebrated her joy.

2 years ago / 10:59 PM EDT

Fall Out Boy performs ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’

Alternative rock legends Fall Out Boy are onstage performing their updated version of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire" in unusually boxy fits. The song blasts some of the most iconic moments of the last 30 years.

The 20-plus-year veterans are back on stage for the first time since 2007, when we all remember bassist Pete Wentz in his guyliner and tight jeans.

The emos (including me) can’t handle it.

2 years ago / 10:55 PM EDT

Karol G and Shakira win best collaboration

After a big night for both artists, Karol G and Shakira snagged a Moon Man for their song "TQG."

Shakira and Karol G accept the best collaboration award at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, N.J., on Tuesday.Theo Wargo / Getty Images for MTV

This is Karol G's first VMAs. She got the crowd on their feet earlier in the night with her performance of "Tá OK" and "OKI DOKI."

Earlier, Shakira was honored with the Video Vanguard Award.

2 years ago / 10:54 PM EDT

Please put out the fire actually

I love Fall Out Boy, but if you wanna talk about millennial triggers, this song is reminding me of AP U.S. History in the worst ways.

2 years ago / 10:45 PM EDT

The VMAs are never-ending

The entire music industry is happening over the course of 12 hours ... but actually four.

2 years ago / 10:44 PM EDT

Nicki Minaj wins VMA for hip-hop

Kaetlyn LiddyKaetlyn Liddy is a newsroom coordinator for NBC News Digital.

Nicki Minaj won her first VMA of the evening in the best hip-hop category for "Super Freaky Girl."

Nicki Minaj accepts the Best Hip Hop award for "Super Freaky Girl" onstage during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday.Theo Wargo / Getty Images for MTV

If anyone was expecting Minaj to "emcee" tonight, they're probably wondering where she's been. Her emcee duties may have been light so far, but she is going home with some hardware.

2 years ago / 10:38 PM EDT

'Almost halfway through'

We knew the show may go over but ... this is definitely a longer evening than we thought.

2 years ago / 10:32 PM EDT

Saweetie has seen your tweets ...

And she doesn't appreciate them!

Introducing the Stray Kids' performance, Saweetie acknowledged her pre-show pink carpet slip-ups — and the internet's reactions to them.

"Y'all better stop making my last video go viral," she said. "I see what you're doing. Anyways, let's try it again."