Victoria Monét holds no grudge toward the VMAs after they told her team it was “too early” in her career for her to perform this year.
The “On My Mama” sensation was a guest on Apple Music’s The Dotty Show, where she reflected on the VMAs telling her team she was “too early” in her music journey to be a performer at the award show.
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Asked if she felt vindicated since everything that happened after they denied her, like her seven Grammy nominations, Victoria said she did.
“It really does feel nice and validating because, in my head, the reason why I wanted to be a performer at the VMAs’ award ceremony is…because I feel like I am at the place where I should. I would work really hard to put on the best show that I could. I was excited to do so.
The 34-year-old soft-spoken seven-time Grammy-nominee continued, “And I guess the best way to describe it for me is…when you’re on a sports team, and the coach is like, ‘Nah, you gotta sit this one out.’ When they finally put you in, and then you score all these points, it feels like that feeling. You’re like, ‘Yes, I knew it wasn’t tripping. I knew I worked hard for this.’”
“So, it has been super validating to just have these accolades come after a moment like that,” Victoria concluded. “And I know the fans feel vindicated for me. I feel no ill towards them because it’s just maybe that’s just truly how they felt at the time. But I hope their minds have changed.”
In September, Victoria took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform confused fans that she didn’t perform at the 2023 VMAs on Sept. 12 because the organizers didn’t think she was well into her music journey to do so.
“I see your advocation for me to have performed tonight, and I’m so grateful to you!! Sincerely! My team was told it is ‘too early in my story’” for that opportunity, so we will keep working! I’m grateful for YOU, for my tour starting this Friday and for the ability to see some of my favorite people perform tonight and receive the love they so deserve!!!” Victoria wrote on X on Sept. 13.
Big mistake for the VMAs because the singer now has seven Grammy nominations: Best Engineered Album, non-classical for “Jaguar II” (the sequel to her 2020 album, “Jaguar”), Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song for “On My Mama,” Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Hollywood,” Best R&B Performance for “How Does It Make You Feel,” Best New Artist and Record of the Year for “On My Mama.”
And her daughter, Hazel, 2, is the youngest Grammy nominee for her vocals in “Hollywood,” featuring Earth, Wind & Fire.
“Too early,” our asses!
