Plenty of stars showed up and showed out for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, but there were also quite a few big names who didn’t show up at all.
The night was huge for Lady Gaga, who dominated the nominations with 12 nods and ultimately became this year’s most-awarded artist with four wins, including Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration for her work with Bruno Mars on “Die With a Smile,” Best Direction and Best Art Direction.
However, she was only there in person to accept her Artist of the Year award. In what can only be described as an iconic move, Gaga delivered her acceptance speech before rushing off to Madison Square Garden, where she performed the sixth concert on her Mayhem Ball Tour. Fans later got to see a pre-taping of Gaga performing her songs “Abracadabra” and “The Dead Dance” at MSG.
While Gaga squeezed the 2025 VMAs into her busy tour schedule, other celebrities decided not to attend the awards show. Keep scrolling to see why Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and more artists skipped:
Taylor Swift
Us Weekly learned on September 5 that Swift would not be attending the VMAs this year despite being nominated for Artist of the Year. Swift last attended the show in 2024, where she walked away with seven awards for her album The Tortured Poets Department.
Swift’s decision to skip comes weeks after she announced her upcoming 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl, which is out October 3. She also recently got engaged to boyfriend Travis Kelce. While many fans thought Swift was skipping the VMAs to support Kelce as the Kansas City Chiefs played against the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil on September 5, she was not in attendance at the game.
Billie Eilish
Eilish was up for six awards, including Video of the Year and Song of the Year for “Birds of a Feather.” It’s unclear why she wasn’t at the 2025 VMAs, but she last attended the show in 2021, so her absence wasn’t too surprising.
SZA
SZA was nominated for Best R&B Song for “Drive” and Best Collaboration for “Luther” with Kendrick Lamar, but she lost in both categories. She kept a low profile on social media the day of the awards show, so it’s unclear why she skipped. She and Lamar have been on the road together for their Grand National Tour, but they’re on a break until September 23.
SZA also last attended the VMAs in 2021.
Beyonce
Beyoncé was nominated for Artist of the Year. It’s no surprise that she skipped the VMAs, as she hasn’t attended the show since 2016.
Miley Cyrus
Cyrus was nominated in four categories, including Best Pop Artist. She last attended the VMAs in 2020.
Ethan Slater
Many fans wondered why Slater wasn’t by girlfriend Ariana Grande’s side as she walked the 2025 VMAs red carpet and later accepted the awards for Best Pop, Video of the Year and Best Long Form Video. However, the couple has kept a low profile this summer and was last spotted out in NYC in the spring. Slater was sure to give Grande a shout-out via social media after her Video of the Year and Best Pop wins.
Charli XCX
Charli XCX skipped the show despite being nominated in five categories, including Best Pop Artist. Prior to the awards show, she was seen at a Gucci event for her upcoming film, Sacrifice, during the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6.
Charli XCX last attended the VMAs in 2021.
Olivia Rodrigo
Rodrigo was not nominated in any categories at the 2025 VMAs, so her absence wasn’t surprising. She wrapped her Guts World Tour in July and has teased that she’s working on her third album.
“As I just grow as a person, and I learn more about music, and I have different perspectives, it’s impossible for that not to be reflected in your songwriting,” she told the Daily Star UK in June. “Hopefully, by the time I put out my next album, it’ll feel more mature and like a different take on things. I think that’s what’s so fun about writing songs, is you get to keep pushing yourself and learning and growing and expanding.”
Travis Scott
Scott was nominated for three awards at the 2025 VMAs, but he ended the night with zero wins. It’s unclear why he didn’t attend, but he was last present at the ceremony in 2021.
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