The 2023 VMAs have already had a fair degree of potential controversy just an hour into the show. During Olivia Rodrigo’s performance, a burning palm tree had fans worried that it wasn’t a planned part of the set, then, just before Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion hit the stage to perform “Bongos,” Meg appeared to exchange words with Justin Timberlake as NSYNC returned backstage after presenting an award to Taylor Swift.
Wtf did he say to her??? #VMAs pic.twitter.com/xYsQNnPrza
— ja
es (@BartierJames) September 13, 2023
Fans observing the moment on Twitter appeared to be divided about the interpretation. Meg, who was getting last-minute touch-ups from her hairstylist, looked agitated by something Timberlake may have said as he passed. While he was smiling, she pointed at him and gave a forceful response. But to some fans, it looked like her end of the conversation was simply her repeating “that doesn’t count,” which they interpreted as a possible response to the bait-and-switch of NYSNC’s rumored “reunion” — she certainly wouldn’t be alone in expecting them to play a song. Even Swift wondered, “You guys are gonna do something, right?”
Either Justin said something wildly out of pocket to her, or she’s saying ‘This does not count,’ maybe referring to them just presenting together as a “reunion” instead of performing.
— Beyoncé’s Summer Renaissance Mic Chain
(@LenaVandross) September 13, 2023
Of course, without the audio, all this is speculation, but I’m inclined to believe the latter explanation. Meg is certainly in the demographic that grew up on NSYNC’s music, so she’d be justified (heh) in being just a little annoyed by the letdown… but hey, their “reunion” tonight seems like the perfect setup for their eventual song from the upcoming Trolls movie, Band Together, which plays off the group’s mid-aughties breakup. If the speculation gets too out of hand, I’m sure they’ll all have plenty of time to dispel the rumors on the press tour for the movie.
Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.