Is It Just Us, or Were These Moments From the VMAs Too Cringeworthy to Comprehend?

In this time of reboots and revivals, the new version of The Hills doesn't even surprise me. It does make me roll my eyes so hard that they're permanently residing in the back of my head, however. But the reunion isn't what was so annoying; it was the actual teaser! We were on the lookout for random footage of Los Angeles and Stephanie Pratt saying, "It's like we're all growing up. It's weird." Really? Half of the cast have kids; we could only hope you're growing up. Do better, The Hills: New Beginnings! Give me drama or leave me alone.

Who isn't in awe of Cardi B's come-up? She has a Cinderella story of climbing the ladder in the hip-hop world, and she's so genuine! But they did her wrong with this intro business. I'm not sure if she wrote her lines, or maybe it was so last minute, they scrambled for something to say. But it all just fell flat, from the baby Kulture fake-out to the awkward jokes about her light bill. It felt so anticlimactic compared to all the hype built up about her opening the show.

OK, Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish were actually the funniest part of the show, but Haddish's dig at Fifth Harmony felt more in bad taste than actually being funny. I get that the group aimed their own dig at Camila Cabello with their performance a year before, but it's about time we just let it go and move on.

Shawn Mendes had a lovely night at the VMAs: his performance was the right amount of thirst trap-y for his fans, and he was dressed like a true gentleman. But everyone has to admit that he was a totally random choice to introduce Jennifer Lopez's Video Vanguard speech, right? And on top of that, we could barely even hear his intro because of the screeching from the VMAs crowd. I'm not sure if it was for Mendes or for Lopez, but either way, I just wanted someone to tell the audience to CHILL. We get it, it's very exciting, but let the man introduce the woman of the damn hour!

Do people not rehearse their lines beforehand? Was it supposed to be amusing that multiple presenters — including Haddish and Olivia Munn — flubbed Cabello's surname throughout the entire show? Y'all couldn't practice it before you went on, just in case you actually had to say it? It isn't even a complicated name that warrants the butchering! Poor Cabello had to force awkward smiles throughout the night when she had every right to lean into that mic and correct each person on that stage.

I don't think anyone expected an earth-shattering tribute for the late, great Aretha Franklin from the VMAs, but what we did get was . . . was it even legal!? Can you rightfully call it a tribute for someone else when all you do is talk about yourself? Was Madonna given any direction or did they just tell her to go out and do whatever it took to take up 40 years of our life?