YUNGBLUD Sparks Concern With Shirtless, Bizarre VMAs Red Carpet Look
YUNGBLUD made one of the most talked-about entrances at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, turning heads—and sparking concern—by going shirtless on the red carpet and striking a series of theatrical poses. The 28-year-old British rocker leaned fully into shock-rock pageantry ahead of his planned tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, but the spectacle set social feeds ablaze with mixed reactions.
Onlookers at UBS Arena in New York watched as YUNGBLUD stripped off a dramatic long coat to reveal his heavily tattooed torso, pairing the look with dangerously low-slung leather trousers and stacked jewelry. Some fans cheered the fearless fashion moment; others took to social media to say the stunt felt “worrying,” “attention-seeking,” or simply “too much,” especially as cameras captured his exaggerated stances and intense glares for photographers.
The wardrobe choices, which nodded to punk and classic shock-rock influences, also carried a poignant meaning. YUNGBLUD accessorized with a cross that he has previously said was given to him by Ozzy Osbourne—an heirloom he’s worn while promising to keep the Black Sabbath legend’s spirit close onstage. With a high-profile tribute slated during the show, the look functioned as both headline-bait and a stylistic homage.
Fashion watchers noted the blend of archival rock references and modern Gen-Z edge: the pants’ ultra low-rise silhouette, a glossy black leather finish, and an emphasis on jewelry—chains, rings, and the cross—over any traditional shirt. His hair, slicked back with loose strands, framed smudged eyeliner and a bare, tattooed chest that doubled as canvas and statement piece.
At the same time, a wave of concerned posts asked whether the theatrics overshadowed the night’s purpose. With tributes, top-tier performances, and major awards on schedule, some viewers argued that the spectacle felt disconnected from the evening’s tone. Others pushed back, pointing out that the VMAs are built for risk, reinvention, and viral moments—and that YUNGBLUD’s red-carpet antics were simply part of the show.
The mixed reaction also tapped into a larger cultural conversation about how artists shape narrative through fashion. For rockers in particular, vulnerability—appearing shirtless, exposing tattoos, leaning into confrontational body language—becomes a visual shorthand for authenticity, even when it risks being read as provocation. YUNGBLUD’s choice was in line with that lineage: messy, theatrical, and designed to be screen-captured a million times.
Regardless of where fans landed, the buzz achieved its goal: YUNGBLUD entered the broadcast as one of the night’s most discussed figures. And with a planned performance honoring Ozzy Osbourne, the expectation was that he’d channel the same unruly energy into music—transforming red-carpet shock into a cathartic onstage release that celebrates a rock icon’s legacy.
Meanwhile, social timelines filled with side-by-side comparisons of his look and earlier rock provocateurs—from Iggy Pop’s leather-clad minimalism to Lenny Kravitz’s forever-open shirts. The through-line: a belief that rock should feel a bit dangerous, especially at the VMAs, an awards show that’s long valued outrageous aesthetics as a launchpad for cultural conversation.
As the dust settles, one takeaway stands out: the VMAs remain a place where fashion and performance bleed into each other, and where a single walk down the carpet can set the tone for an entire broadcast. Love it or loathe it, YUNGBLUD’s shirtless arrival did exactly that—turning a few minutes of red-carpet choreography into the night’s first viral act.
