Taylor Swift, the Grammy-winning sensation, had an unforgettable time at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). Her reactions throughout the evening were almost as entertaining as the VMAs themselves, from dancing in her seat to enjoying a seemingly endless supply of drinks.
However, amidst all the fun, there was a moment that briefly dampened Swift’s spirits. It appeared that she accidentally broke her pricey statement ring during the festivities.
For this year’s VMAs, an event celebrating the year’s best music videos and artists, the “Anti-Hero” singer graced the red carpet in a stunning black Versace dress adorned with ruching and gold button details. She completed her ensemble with an array of jewelry, including a $43,500 necklace from Anita Ko, a vintage diamond necklace valued at $65,000, and a $12,000 statement ring from Van Cleef & Arpels.
Regrettably, it was the latter piece that seemed to meet its untimely demise while Swift was showcasing her dance moves.
The Van Cleef & Arpels Onyx and Diamond ring, a creation from the esteemed French luxury jewelry company, featured a gold beaded band with a diamond-studded head encircled by a black onyx gemstone.
In a video captured by an MTV camera operator dedicated to documenting Swift’s every reaction, the “Bad Blood” singer displayed a highly relatable expression upon realizing that the $12,000 ring had broken. She held up the damaged ring for a VMAs security guard and pointed to the missing piece. Swift’s friends and fellow attendees rallied to help her search for the broken ring fragments.
While it remains uncertain whether Swift managed to recover the lost gemstone, she was notably ring-less when she accepted the Video of the Year award for her chart-topping song, “Anti-Hero.”
Despite the mishap, the comical expression Swift made when she noticed the missing piece of her ring might just become one of the most memorable moments in Swift’s history.
“One of the funniest moments from the #MTV VMAs has to be Taylor’s face after breaking her $12,000 ring,” commented one fan on social media.
“HER FACE,” echoed another.
“Taylor partied too hard,” jestingly quipped another fan.
The ring incident was just one of the memorable moments Swift shared with her fans during the awards show. Swift couldn’t contain her excitement when NSYNC reunited at the VMAs to present her with the Best Pop Video award. She warmly embraced each member on stage, revealing that she had their action figures when she was a child. Lance Bass, an NSYNC member, also presented her with multiple friendship bracelets, a cherished tradition among Swift’s devoted fanbase.
“What are you doing now? Are you doing something?” she inquired of the group on stage. “They’re gonna do something, and I need to know what it is! You’re pop personified.”
The “Shake It Off” singer also appeared to let loose, as she was spotted with a plastic cup, possibly filled with an alcoholic beverage, in her hand throughout the night. In one instance, she struggled to retrieve her drink from her seat’s cup holder, while in another, she looked bewildered as a server approached her with a tray carrying six drinks, asking, “What is it?”
At the VMAs, the 33-year-old songstress emerged as the night’s biggest winner, securing awards for Best Pop, Song of the Year, Best Direction, and Video of the Year. With a total of 23 VMA wins to her name, Swift now stands as the second-most decorated artist in the award show’s history, second only to Beyoncé.
