Confusion was abound when Justin Bieber won the award for Artist of the Year at the VMAs on Sunday. The 27-year-old beat out Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift in the category.
As he took the stage to accept the award, Bieber lauded music's unifying abilities as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to upend the globe. The warm sentiment, however, wasn't enough to quell those who were upset and perplexed by the victory.
In a category that included plenty of talent, the fans tried to make a case for the rest of the artists.
Some weren't even aware the "Peaches" artist was still making music.
Even fans said the award show could have practiced a bit more discernment.
Earlier this year, Bieber released his Justice album which received widespread criticism for seemingly attempting to monetize the climate which followed George Floyd's protests as Blavity previously reported. The project also contained audio clips from speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King.
According to Page Six, the "Baby" singer had a six-year hiatus from the VMAs before he returned on Sunday. He earned seven nominations this year, including Video of the Year and Best Pop Song.
Bieber showed his appreciation for his wife, Hailey Baldwin, as she sat with the audience to watch him accept his award on Sunday.
