November 1, 2024

15 Photos That Prove The 2000 VMAs Were Trippy As Hell

If you weren’t around or paying attention to the VMAs in 2000, we’re sorry. You missed a lot of really famous people letting it all hang out, flipping off the camera, climbing the set, wearing colors bright enough to burn your retinas. Apparently nothing was off-limits in the early 21st century. Not even strict violations of good taste.

Hey, we’ve all made an odd choice or two in our lives that will live on forever in photographic form, and these artists are no different. This isn’t Snapchat or #ThrowbackThursday — this is permanent MTV history. So let’s review.

1. Dwayne Johnson looked like an Academy Award. Before he made everyone use his real name, The Rock stunted in an all-gold-everything outfit that even MC Hammer couldn’t touch.

2000 MTV Video Music AwardsGetty Images

2. Moby looked like the devil. Quick! Splash him with holy water!

MTV Video Music AwardsGetty Images

3. So did Lil’ Kim. Yeah, we can’t imagine Moby wearing this.

2000 MTV Video Music AwardsGetty Images

4. Christina Aguilera performed with Fred Durst. Two icons. Two musical styles. One of the trippiest duets in history.

2000 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDSGetty Images

5. Chris Rock embraced his pimp phase. Also, Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers embraced his shirtless phase (or, wait — is he still in that phase?).

The 2000 MTV Video Music AwardsGetty Images

6. Eminem brought a clone army. At the time, Eminem was known for performing with a squadron of lookalikes, and wearing oversize cargo sweatpants. Perfect for junk-grabbing.

2000 MTV Video Music Awards RehearsalsGetty Images

7. They weren’t the most convincing clones. Up close, do any of these guys resemble the real Slim Shady?

The 2000 MTV Video Music AwardsGetty Images

Related: The 1993 VMAs Were So Weird

8. Blink-182 played “All the Small Things.” …with these backup dancers.

Blink 182Getty Images

9. P!nk‘s hair might’ve stabbed a few people. “P!nk”? More like “Punk!” (We’ll show ourselves out.)

Celebrities at MTV AwardsGetty Images

10. Jimmy Fallon performed with a puppet boy band. No stranger to weird bits, during the 2000 VMAs Jimmy performed with *NSYNC on a stick.

2000 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDSGetty Images

11. Chyna basically auditioned for Wonder Woman. (Gal Gadot was a little too young for the part back in 2000.)

2000 MTV Video Music AwardsGetty Images

12. Napster’s CEO taunted Metallica. The band sued the file-sharing app over lost royalties. At least they made like $20 off Shawn Fanning buying their t-shirt?

Shawn Fanning At The 2000 MTV Video Music AwardsGetty Images

13. “Survivor” winner Richard Hatch was there, because why not?

2000 MTV Video Music AwardsGetty Images

14. Toni Braxton forgot to wear a shirt. She wasn’t the first, and certainly wasn’t the last.

MTV Video Awards at Radio City Music HAllGetty Images

15. Rage Against the Machine‘s bassist Tim Commerford climbed the VMAs set in the middle of the show. This was perhaps the trippiest moment of the 2000 VMAs, but at least he didn’t actually trip. He just got arrested. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

2000 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDSGetty Images

Related: 53 Life-Altering Moments The VMAs Burned Into Your Brain Forever

It’s up to you to decide the winners of the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards! Vote now and tune in Sunday, August 24, at 9/8c ET to see who wins at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Plus, get the latest updates from all your favorite VMA artists on the MTV Artists App.

About the author  ⁄ Jim Tews

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