2024 MTV VMAs: Why Olivia Rodrigo and Ariana Grande Were Missing From the MTV Video Music Awards
Don’t call Billie Eilish the bad guy for skipping the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.
The singer was among the most-nominated artists at the Sept. 11 ceremony—which featured electrifying performances from the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Shawn Mendes, Chappell Roan, Eminem and host Megan Thee Stallion—but she was noticeably absent from the festivities.
So, why the no-show? “With her world tour starting in two weeks,” an industry source told E! News Sept. 12, “she was deep in preparation for that.”
While Billie had to sit out the VMAs, there was no shortage of star power in New York’s UBS Arena as Taylor Swift dominated the night with seven wins, including Video of the Year. Katy Perry also created a perfect storm with a career-spanning performance, before longtime love Orlando Bloom presented her with the Video Vanguard award.
As for Billie, she’s set to hit the road in support of her third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, with a tour of the same name kicking off Sept. 29 in Quebec City, Canada. From there, she’ll trek across North America through Dec. 17, before heading down under for Australian dates in February and March. After that, she’ll take the tour to Sweden in April and continue to play shows across Europe through July.
