Sabrina Carpenter surprises fans with alien kiss during 2024 VMAs performance

Sabrina Carpenter shocks fans by kissing an alien during her 2024 VMAs performance, sparking playful reactions online.

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter shocked fans during her 2024 MTV Video Music Awards performance by kissing an alien backup dancer. The 25-year-old descended to the stage atop a glittery swing, singing her hit "Please Please Please" from her Short N Sweet album. As she transitioned into her single “Taste,” Carpenter was surrounded by astronauts and aliens, setting the stage for her unexpected kiss.

Several users on social media humorously tied the alien kiss to Donald Trump’s comments about illegal aliens and transgender individuals.

One fan commented, “Not the transgender illegal alien who eats cats and dogs 😭,” poking fun at the otherworldly nature of Carpenter’s performance. Another user chimed in with, “Trump was right! They're doing gender reassignment surgery on aliens and this adding another layer of satire to an already unexpected VMAs moment.

The kiss, originally meant to pay homage to Carpenter’s Taste video and her previous on-screen kiss with Jenna Ortega, has now become fodder for political memes, highlighting how pop culture moments can quickly spiral into broader social commentary online.

The performance, which also featured her song "Espresso," continued Carpenter’s bold and playful VMAs presence. Carpenter had debuted at the VMAs in 2023 during the pre-show, but this year she received seven nominations, including Artist of the Year and Best Pop Artist.

Fellow performers included Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, and Katy Perry, who was honored with the Video Vanguard Award. Megan Thee Stallion hosted the event for the first time,