Olivia Rodrigo made her mark at the MTV VMAs with the first live performance from her "Guts" era. She took the stage to sing "Vampire" in front of an audience that included Taylor Swift, sparking speculation that the song might be about Swift. However, Rodrigo addressed these rumors, emphasizing that she prefers not to reveal the subjects of her songs.

During a recent interview with The Guardian, Rodrigo stated, "I never want to say who any of my songs are about. I’ve never done that before in my career and probably won’t. I think it’s better to not pigeonhole a song to being about this one thing." She also expressed her surprise at the theory connecting the song to Taylor Swift.

Rodrigo's performance at the VMAs began with a heartfelt rendition of "Vampire." However, the performance took an unexpected turn when parts of her set started falling over, pyrotechnics went off chaotically, and the camera feed glitched. The audience, including Selena Gomez, appeared puzzled. It turned out to be a well-executed stage trick and a reference to her "Vampire" music video, where she is escorted offstage mid-performance.

Following this dramatic moment, Rodrigo continued with her song "Get Him Back!" and was joined on stage by a group of dancers dressed in pink. Wearing a vibrant red two-piece outfit, she delivered a powerful performance, earning roaring applause from the audience.

Rodrigo's VMAs appearance followed the release of her second album, "Guts," less than a week prior. She discussed her growing confidence as a performer, citing her tour experience as a significant factor in her increased comfort on stage.