Footage of Selena Gomez's reaction to Chris Brown's nomination for a VMA has gone viral, and fans are praising the singer for refusing to celebrate him.
Brown was nominated in the Best R&B category at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday for his and Chloe Bailey's song "How Does it Feel."
But Gomez was not impressed.
Video captured Gomez clapping for nominees in the category... that is, until Brown's name was called. Gomez cut the applause and grimaced upon hearing "Chris Brown," and then resumed cheering for the rest of the nominated artists.
You can watch the clip below.
Selena Gomez reacting to Chris Brown being nominated at the #VMAs.— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1694567662
Viewers connected with Gomez's stance, as many questioned the nomination in the first place, given Brown's history of physical assault—the most prominent being his guilty plea to assaulting Rihanna in 2009.
Brown has also been accused of abuse by Karrueche Tran and others dating as recently as just last year.
Needless to say, fans praised Gomez for refusing to celebrate Brown's nomination.
@PopBase She represents all of us— Leo (@Leo) 1694567711
@eatsleepfrank @PopBase So realllllll— IFEOLUWA\u2764\ufe0f\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddec (@IFEOLUWA\u2764\ufe0f\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddec) 1694571920
@PopBase He should of never been nominated.— Mal (@Mal) 1694567733
@PopBase My queen \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02— Ewurama Folake (@Ewurama Folake) 1694569163
@PopBase Selena Gomez reacting like everyone else \ud83d\ude22— Monke\ud83c\udf4c (@Monke\ud83c\udf4c) 1694567730
@PopBase as she should— lesego. (@lesego.) 1694567756
@PopBase She\u2019s so real for this— Bad Idea (@Bad Idea) 1694567696
@PopBase She ain\u2019t wrong. I think she expressed what we all felt when we saw that lol— Raven \ud83d\udc41 (@Raven \ud83d\udc41) 1694567848
@PopBase That was my same reaction— Ronald (@Ronald) 1694568635
@PopBase She\u2019s right too— Choco Latte\ud83c\udf6b\u2615\ufe0f (@Choco Latte\ud83c\udf6b\u2615\ufe0f) 1694586196
@PopBase As she should\u2026 as anyone should— Leah (@Leah) 1694621593
Brown later took to his Instagram stories to share a couple of thoughts, first writing:
"IM THE GOAT and you know it 😏❤️"
Which was followed by:
"Let me mind my business"
Chris Brown reacts to Selena Gomez giving him the stank face for being nominated at the #VMAs \ud83d\udc40— HIPHOP CROWN NATION (@HIPHOP CROWN NATION) 1694595446
While he didn't elaborate, we can guess what that was about.
Gomez herself wrote on her Instagram stories:
"I will never be a meme again."
"I'd rather sit still than be dragged for being myself."
@selenagomez/Instagram
It's not clear if Gomez was referring to the Chris Brown reaction or her genuine concern during a planned stage malfunction during Olivia Rodrigo's set...
Have you seen Olivia Rodrigo\u2019s stage malfunction during the VMAs? \ud83d\ude33 #ExpressoShow #SelenaGomez— Expresso Show (@Expresso Show) 1694581082
... but we prefer the honest and unfiltered Selena being herself, all day, every day.