{
  "id": 10499119,
  "title": "From Taylor Swift and Dakota Johnson Lipsyncing to ‘Off Campus’ Love: 7 Things Cameras Didn’t Catch at the VMAs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/from-taylor-swift-and-dakota-johnson-lipsyncing-to-off-campus-love-7",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-28T17:46:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/music/vmas-behind-the-scenes-taylor-swift-dakota-johnson-off-campus/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) took place in Los Angeles for the first time since 2015, bringing star power and risqué moments to the event. Madonna opened the show alongside Charli xcx and Sabrina Carpenter, setting the stage for a sensual VMAs vibe. However, there were several moments that cameras did not capture at the event, particularly involving show-stealer Taylor Swift.\n\nTwo major headliners, Bruno Mars and Kacey Musgraves, were not presented live but instead featured in pre-recorded clips. Mars' performance from The Romantic Tour was shown, while Musgraves' tribute to Dolly Parton was taped from the stage but Musgraves herself was not present. Musgraves' tribute, which featured background set elements reminiscent of a saloon, was later utilized for Shaboozey's performance of \"High Noon\" and \"Cowgirl\".\n\nShaboozey and rapper Gunna brought pyrotechnics to the show, igniting the salon backdrop with their performance of \"High Noon\" and \"Cowgirl\". Meanwhile, Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli, stars of \"Off Campus\" Season 2, stole the show as they introduced a performance from best new artist nominee Sienna Spiro. Bright, a Taylor Swift fan, was seated next to Swift herself at the event.\n\nDuring the VMAs, Swift and Dakota Johnson, who played Dakota Johnson in Swift's \"Patient Zero\" music video, embraced each other as they watched the debut of their collaboration. Swift lipsynced the new song as the two held onto each other. Following the music video, Swift and Johnson returned to the stage, where Swift lifted her award in the air. Paris Hilton, a presenter at the VMAs, also took advantage of the event to film promotional videos for a new fragrance.",
  "summary": "Paris Hilton was in promo mode while Swift shared a moment with Madonna The post From Taylor Swift and Dakota Johnson Lipsyncing to ‘Off Campus’ Love: 7 Things Cameras Didn’t Catch at the VMAs appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}