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Selena Gomez Vows Never to Be a ‘Meme’ After Viral VMAs Reactions on September 13, 2023 at 2:38 pm Us Weekly

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Selena Gomez’s audience reactions went viral during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards — and she has some thoughts.

“I will never be a meme again,” Gomez, 31, wrote via her Instagram Story after the Tuesday, September 12, awards show. “I’d rather sit still than be dragged for being myself. Much love.”

During the ceremony — which was held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey — fans spotted Gomez making funny faces in response to some of the night’s performances and nominees. At the start of the show, she was one of many attendees who appeared confused by Olivia Rodrigo’s intentional stage malfunction during her performance of “Vampire.”

“Selena’s face while Olivia’s performance says it all,” one fan captioned photos of Gomez’s shocked face via X (formerly known as Twitter) on Tuesday. Another wrote, “Not Selena Gomez covering her ears during Olivia Rodrigo’s performance.”

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Related: MTV VMAs 2023 Red Carpet Fashion: What the Stars Wore

The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards have commenced — and the best names in music gave Us a fashion show on the red carpet.  The annual ceremony took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday, September 12, marking a triumphant return to the venue. The event — which aired live on […]

Gomez, for her part, clarified in the comments section of a BuzzFeed Celeb Instagram post that she “heard a loud noise and it scared me” while Rodrigo, 20, was singing.

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The Only Murders in the Building star also scrunched her nose as Chris Brown’s name was read as one of the Best R&B nominees. “The stank face? She’s so real for that,” one fan tweeted on Tuesday, while another noted, “At least she’s honest.”

Selena Gomez Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

Gomez once again took to the comments section of an iHeartRadio AU Instagram post to address her reaction, writing, “Who cares lol.”

Brown, 34, has made headlines over the years for multiple controversies. He was arrested in 2009 for physically assaulting Rihanna, his then-girlfriend, and was sentenced to five years of probation. Brown was also required to complete community service and to undergo domestic violence counseling. (The now-exes called it quits in the wake of the scandal, briefly rekindling their romance in 2013.)

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Related: Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez’s Friendship Over the Years

Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez formed a strong friendship that has lasted more than a decade. Swift and Gomez originally crossed paths in 2008 on a double date with Joe Jonas and Nick Jonas, respectively. “We actually dated the Jonas Brothers together! It was hysterical,” Gomez recalled during a 2017 radio interview. “It was amazing, because [Taylor] was the girl with the big curly hair and […]

Reactions aside, Gomez also celebrated a big win. She took home the VMA trophy for Best Afrobeats for the song “Calm Down” with Rema. “Thank you so much, Rema, for believing in me, and thank you for choosing me to be a part of such an incredible song that’s been able to break records,” she said on Tuesday after being prompted to speak by Rema, 23. “Thank you to all of you for listening, for streaming. I could not be more honored, and I want to send all my love to Nigeria. Thank you.”

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The award marked Gomez’s second VMAs win, having previously accepted Best Pop Video for her song “Come and Get It” in 2013.

Gomez — who wore a ruby red beaded floral gown at this year’s awards show — also poked fun at herself and bestie Taylor Swift via her Instagram Story. Sharing a snap taken inside the venue, she wrote, “She looks stunning I look constipated. Typical.”

Swift, 33, channeled her Reputation era on Tuesday in a black Versace dress with gold accents. She scored a total of nine awards, including her fourth Video of the Year award for her song “Anti-Hero.” Swift broke her own VMAs record with the victory.

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Selena Gomez’s audience reactions went viral during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards — and she has some thoughts. “I will never be a meme again,” Gomez, 31, wrote via her Instagram Story after the Tuesday, September 12, awards show. “I’d rather sit still than be dragged for being myself. Much love.” During the ceremony 

​   Us Weekly Read More 

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Miley Cyrus Is Engaged to Maxx Morando

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Miley Cyrus is officially off the market: the pop superstar is engaged to musician Maxx Morando after four years together, and the speculation about “that ring” has finally been put to rest. The engagement caps a quietly steady relationship that has unfolded mostly out of the spotlight, marking a new chapter for Miley after years of highly public romances.

Engagement finally confirmed

Reports from major entertainment outlets confirm that Cyrus and Morando are engaged following her recent red-carpet appearance in Los Angeles.

Observers noticed a new diamond ring on her left-hand ring finger, and sources close to the singer have since confirmed that the jewelry is indeed an engagement ring. The news comes after days of online buzz and fan speculation, which began almost as soon as photos from the event hit social media.

The love story with Maxx Morando

Maxx Morando is a drummer and musician who has performed with bands like The Regrettes and has also worked as a producer and collaborator behind the scenes. He and Miley were first linked in late 2021, reportedly after meeting through mutual friends and hitting it off on a low-key first date that eventually grew into a long-term relationship. The pair have kept things relatively private, appearing together at select fashion shows, award events, and premieres rather than turning their romance into constant social-media content.

That very on-trend engagement ring

The ring that set the internet on fire features a cushion-cut diamond set on a chunky yellow gold band, a bold, fashion-forward design that fits Cyrus’s eclectic style. The piece is reported to be by designer Jacquie Aiche, whose jewelry is frequently worn by celebrities and known for mixing bohemian influences with luxury materials. Commentators note that the thick band and substantial stone are in line with the current trend toward statement engagement rings that feel modern and personal rather than traditional and dainty.

Fans react to Miley’s new chapter

Longtime fans who have watched Miley grow from Disney Channel star to Grammy-winning artist see this engagement as another milestone in her evolution. On social platforms, many have highlighted how different this relationship feels compared with her past, pointing to the couple’s low-key approach and shared creative interests as signs of a more grounded partnership. Others are already speculating about wedding plans, guest lists, and whether the singer might channel her “Flowers” era energy into a bridal look that breaks all the rules.

What this means for Miley’s image

Cyrus has spent the last few years redefining herself musically and personally, from the success of “Flowers” to acclaimed live performances and a more polished public image. This engagement to Morando reinforces that arc, presenting her as an artist who has found balance between rebellion and stability, independence and partnership. While no wedding details have been announced yet, the announcement alone ensures Miley and Maxx will remain at the center of pop culture conversations for months to come.

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Mariah Carey’s One Holiday Hit Pays her $3.3 Million a Year

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Mariah Carey did not just land a Christmas hit; she locked in a seasonal paycheck for life. Every year, All I Want for Christmas Is You is estimated to pull in somewhere between 2.5 and 3.3 million dollars in royalties, from streaming, radio, licensing, and all those store playlists that flip her on the second the Halloween decorations come down. Over three decades, that adds up to tens of millions tied to a single song, turning one holiday anthem into a textbook example of how a perfectly timed pop track can become a retirement plan in glitter.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and Santa Claus present pop superstar Mariah Carey with a framed certificate honoring her induction into the 2023 Library of Congress National Recording Registry for “All I Want for Christmas is You,” December 14, 2023. Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress. Note: Privacy and publicity rights for individuals depicted may apply.

What keeps it so sticky is how audiences respond to it emotionally. Fans describe the song as an instant mood-lifter: the kind of track that makes people abandon their carts in Target, sing in the dairy aisle, or scream the chorus in the car like a full-blown music video moment.

People love the mix of old-school Motown-style production, sleigh bells, and Mariah’s big, joyful vocals—it feels nostalgic without sounding dated, and romantic without being corny to most listeners.

For a lot of millennials and Gen Z, hearing that opening piano riff is the unofficial signal that the holidays have “officially started.”

Of course, the obsession is loud enough that the backlash is, too—but even the complaints prove its impact. Some listeners say they are tired of hearing it everywhere, from October onward, but that is partly because it dominates every Christmas playlist, radio rotation, and TikTok trend. Whether people are passionately belting it out or dramatically rolling their eyes, the engagement keeps the streams flowing—and the royalties stacking. Love it or hate it, All I Want for Christmas Is You has become the soundtrack to December, and Mariah collects a festive multimillion-dollar “thank you” every single year.

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How The Grinch Became The Richest Christmas Movie Ever

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The Grinch didn’t just steal Christmas—he stole the box office. The 2018 animated film The Grinch turned holiday chaos into serious cash, grossing around $540 million worldwide on a modest $75 million budget, making it the highest‑grossing Christmas movie of all time. That is more than seven times its production cost, which is the kind of holiday return every studio dreams about.

Meanwhile, the 2000 live‑action How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey laid the groundwork for this green empire. That version pulled in roughly $345–347 million worldwide on a $123 million budget, turning a prickly Dr. Seuss villain into a perennial box‑office player and a meme‑ready holiday icon. The nostalgia around Carrey’s performance is a big part of why audiences were ready to show up again almost two decades later.​

The Money Behind The Mayhem

The 2018 film did not just earn big—it earned smart.

It opened to more than $$67 million domestically in its first weekend and kept playing steadily through November and December, ultimately pulling in about $272 million in the U.S. and roughly $267 million internationally.

Holiday timing, family‑friendly branding, and the Illumination animation style (the same studio behind Despicable Me) helped it become a go‑to choice for parents seeking something safe, colorful, and chaos‑free for kids.

Then there is the profit. Trade estimates peg the film’s net profit in the neighborhood of nearly $185 million once theatrical revenue, home entertainment, and TV/streaming deals are baked in. That is before counting years of reruns, licensing, and holiday programming packages—every December, the Grinch gets another quiet deposit while everyone else is wrapping gifts.

Grinch vs. Everyone: Who’s Really On Top?

Here is how the Grinch stacks up against other Christmas heavyweights by worldwide box office:

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FilmYearWorldwide Gross (approx.)Notes
The Grinch (animated)2018$510–540 millionHighest‑grossing Christmas movie ever
Home Alone1990~$476 millionLongtime champ, now second place
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (live‑action)2000~$345–347 millionBuilt the modern Grinch brand
The Polar Express2004~$315 millionHoliday staple, trails both Grinch movies

Different sources list slightly different totals, but they all agree: the 2018 Grinch sits at the top of the Christmas money mountain.

Why The Grinch Keeps Printing Money

The secret sauce is that the Grinch is more than a movie—he is a business model. Every version of this character hits a different emotional lane: Jim Carrey’s 2000 Grinch is pure chaotic energy and quotable nostalgia, while the 2018 Grinch is softer, cuter, and perfectly engineered for modern families and global audiences. Together, they keep the character relevant across generations, which is exactly what studios want from an evergreen holiday IP.

On top of box office and home sales, the character feeds theme‑park attractions, holiday events, branded specials, apparel, toys, and seasonal marketing campaigns. The Grinch went from “I hate Christmas” to “I own Christmas,” quietly turning grouchiness into one of the most profitable holiday brands on the planet.

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