Selena Gomez took to her Instagram story seemingly after Olivia Rodrigo’s MTV Video Music Awards performance where she faked stage malfunctions.

Selena’s appeared confused, worried and somewhat scared during the planned malfunctions – which included things falling props and a faux explosion.

The singer, 31, took to her Instagram to write: ‘I will never be a meme again. I’d rather sit still than be dragged for being myself. Much love.’

Selena appeared to hit back at fans making her nervous expression during Olivia’s performance into a meme, which began lighting up social media.

Her words: Selena Gomez took to her Instagram story seemingly after Olivia Rodrigo’s MTV Video Music Awards performance where she faked stage malfunctions

Not a meme: Selena’s appeared confused, worried and somewhat scared during the planned malfunctions – which included things falling props and a faux explosion

The moment: The singer, 31, took to her Instagram to write: ‘I will never be a meme again. I’d rather sit still than be dragged for being myself. Much love

Chaos: 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

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 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.

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

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

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

@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.’

In addition, Selena made her feelings about controversial popstar Chris Brown incredibly clear on Tuesday night, when she was caught visibly sneering as his name was read out during the 2023 MTV Video Music Award ceremony.

The 31-year-old singer and actress — who won the Best Afrobeats award with Rema — was caught on camera making a very disgruntled expression as the 34-year-old R&B crooner’s name was mentioned during the ceremony.

Brown was nominated for Best R&B for his cameo on Chloe Bailey‘s song How Does It Feel and the moment his name was read out as one of the listed nominees, Gomez was seen scrunching up her nose in clear disapproval over his acknowledgement.

Although Gomez has not yet addressed the reasons behind her seemingly-disgusted reaction to Brown’s nomination, she is by no means the first person to publicly denounce the singer – who has been repeatedly criticized for his violent past, including his assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009.

Viral! Selena was caught reacting to Chris Brown ‘s 2023 MTV Video Music Award nomination during Tuesday night’s live broadcast

Not a fan? As the presenter named the Virginia-bred music artist (seen in February), the Only Murders In The Building actress emphatically scrunched her nose in seeming disapproval

However, after her reaction was posted on social media – along with several other snaps of her animated expressions throughout the evening – the singer did speak out to slam those who had seemingly made a joke of her reactions.

‘I will never be a meme again,’ she wrote on her Instagram Stories. ‘I’d rather sit still than be dragged for being myself. Much love.’

Gomez’s incredibly unimpressed response to Brown’s nomination comes just weeks after singer Ciara caught flack from fans for working with him on her new song How We Roll.

Critics flooded her social media comments to condemn her for working with the ‘toxic’ hitmaker despite his violent past — which includes physically abusing Rihanna in 2009.

Brown was charged with felony assault and making criminal threats but avoided jail time by accepting a plea deal.

Last November Kelly Rowland defended Chris when he was booed after winning Best Male R&B Artist at the American Music Awards, which he was not present for.

At the time she said ‘we all need to be forgiven’ while scolding the crowd.

Kelly later told TMZ: ‘I believe that grace is very real, we all need a dose of it. Before we point fingers at anyone we should realize how grateful we are, for every moment that we get.’

Bailey faced similar outrage back in February when she announced that she had teamed up with Brown on a track – with many critics slamming her for ‘making music with an abuser’.

Brown has been repeatedly criticized for his violent past, including his assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009

In the early hours of February 8, 2009, he got into an argument with Rihanna that ended with him assaulting her badly enough to require her hospitalization

The rapper was charged with felony assault and making criminal threats the following month, initially pleading not guilty, before pleading guilty to a single felony count