The 20-year-old singer was the second performer of the night, behind Lil Wayne, singing her new hit track Vampire on stage at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The California native performed on stage dressed up like a forest, with the singer rocking a red bra and matching skirt for the song.

After the song started to pick up, Rodrigo stood up, as pyrotechnics went off all around her, which appeared to startle the singer, as fake tree branches and a red drape fell from the stage, as a VMA stagehand quickly ushered her off the stage.

As she was whisked off stage, Selena Gomez even looked quite distraught, as the stage went dark, briefly cutting to her hit song Good For U before she started performing another new hit, Get Him Back, flanked by a number of pink-clad singers-dancers.

Olivia: Just days after releasing her second studio album Guts, Olivia Rodrigo had some fun with her fans during her performance at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards

Ushered: After the song started to pick up, Rodrigo stood up, as pyrotechnics went off all around her, which appeared to startle the singer, as fake tree branches and a red drape fell from the stage, as a VMA stagehand quickly ushered her off the stage

Distraught: As she was whisked off stage, Selena Gomez even looked quite distraught, as the stage went dark, briefly cutting to her hit song Good For U before she started performing another new hit, Get Him Back, flanked by a number of pink-clad singers-dancers

While the staged disruption seemed to worry Gomez, many of the fans were not so fooled on social media.

‘Olivia Rodrigo really traumatized Selena Gomez with her fake stage malfunction during her performance… Selena ain’t ever going to an awards show again,’ said Twitter user @sweeterheavens.

@rnbgirlies tweeted, ‘The way Selena Gomez was concerned for Olivia Rodrigo during her performance for Vampire.’

@SGomezNewsComs clarified that Gomez’s reaction was to the ‘planned STAGE MALFUNCTION,’ adding Gomez was, ‘confused, scared and worried for Olivia bc she didn’t know it was planned.’

While some fans seemed to think Gomez was reacting to the song, others like @logicaIvi said, ‘the stage was supposed to malfunction and selena didn’t know so she was concerned.’

@Gibsonoma quote-retweeted an outlet claiming the reaction was to Olivia’s performance, adding, ‘This is completely unfair and out of context: Olivia pretended to have her set break down and semi-explode as she was fake rushed off stage and Selena was reacting to that, probably thinking something was really going wrong.’

@highbritt asked ‘Did the stage really just get ruined like that or was that apart of the skit?’

@Dripmarvelshort added, ‘Stage malfunction forces stagehand to direct Olivia Rodrigo off stage during her MTV #VMAs.’

Staged: While the staged disruption seemed to worry Gomez, many of the fans were not so fooled on social media

Fake: ‘Olivia Rodrigo really traumatized Selena Gomez with her fake stage malfunction during her performance… Selena ain’t ever going to an awards show again,’ said Twitter user @sweeterheavens

Concerned: @rnbgirlies tweeted, ‘The way Selena Gomez was concerned for Olivia Rodrigo during her performance for Vampire’

Planned: @SGomezNewsComs clarified that Gomez’s reaction was to the ‘planned STAGE MALFUNCTION,’ adding Gomez was, ‘confused, scared and worried for Olivia bc she didn’t know it was planned.’

Supposed: While some fans seemed to think Gomez was reacting to the song, others like @logicaIvi said, ‘the stage was supposed to malfunction and selena didn’t know so she was concerned’

Unfair: @Gibsonoma quote-retweeted an outlet claiming the reaction was to Olivia’s performance, adding, ‘This is completely unfair and out of context: Olivia pretended to have her set break down and semi-explode as she was fake rushed off stage and Selena was reacting to that, probably thinking something was really going wrong.’

Reason: @francinaaa_ asked, ‘So was that apart of the performance or not?’

Ruined: @highbritt asked ‘Did the stage really just get ruined like that or was that apart of the skit?’

Stage: @Dripmarvelshort added, ‘Stage malfunction forces stagehand to direct Olivia Rodrigo off stage during her MTV #VMAs’

Olivia Rodrigo stuns at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards

Rodrigo has yet to publicly comment on whether or not the stage malfunction was in fact staged or not.

The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) is being held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The show is hosted by rap royalty Nicki Minaj, marking her second consecutive year in the role. It is the first time the ceremony has been held on a Tuesday.

Airing live in more than 150 countries, the global fan-filled spectacle honors the best music videos of the past year with unforgettable performances, epic tributes and show-stopping appearances from music’s biggest stars.