Madonna ROASTS Sabrina Carpenter who is left frantically defending her team as their MTV VMAs 2026 speech goes off the rails

Get exclusive reporting, celebrity gossip, sensational photos and more every Tuesday morning in our new Spotlight US newsletter HEREHave YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com Published: 22:02 EDT, 27 September 2026 | Updated: 23:38 EDT, 27 September 2026 Madonna left Sabrina Carpenter on the defensive by taking a swipe at her team during their acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday.Carpenter, 27, and Madonna, 68, took the stage at the Peacock Theater together when they won best collaboration for the video for their duet Bring Your Love.'I would like to briefly say how this collaboration came about,' said Madonna. 'Everybody who knows me knows how impatient I am, and when five days passed and I still didn't get connected with Sabrina and didn't hear back from her about whether she wanted to do a song with me - five days! - I DM'ed her.'As the live audience reacted to the dig at Carpenter's entourage, she herself was reduced to fits of nervous laughter while standing beside Madonna.Eventually, she sprang frantically to her employees' defense, saying: 'My team replies! Just so everybody knows, they do respond to people!'Carpenter then acknowledged to a round of applause that 'I respond faster, so direct line to me is always the best way to get in contact.'The Daily Mail has contacted Madonna and Carpenter's representatives for comment. Madonna left Sabrina Carpenter on the defensive by taking a swipe at her team during their acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday Carpenter, 27, and Madonna, 68, took the stage at the Peacock Theater together when they won best collaboration for the video for their duet Bring Your Love'Okay, so we're gonna go back there and have a drink or something,' replied the Queen of Pop, as Carpenter once again let out an anxious giggle.After pouring scorn on Carpenter's entourage, Madonna struck a more conciliatory tone by showering praise on her duet partner and stressing their common traits.'I love working with you because you are so professional, and in this day and age it's really hard to find professional people to work with,' said Madonna.'When I show up late, she shows up early, so it works out. And she has OCD and so do I,' the Material Girl hitmaker informed the audience.'We write our lyrics down on pieces of paper, like they did in the 1800s, and it's been wonderful working with you and I love this song,' she raved.'And if you think it's a love song, you are wrong. It is a song about people who think they know you better than you know yourself. And I love you,' she said to Carpenter.Their shambolic joint speech came after Madonna brought Carpenter and Charli XCX onstage with her for her opening performance at the ceremony.Madonna had not sung onstage at the VMAs since 2003, when she set off a media firestorm by kissing both Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.MTV VMAs 2026 winners: AT A GLANCE Artist of the Year: MadonnaBest Collaboration: Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your LoveBest Dance: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)Best Cinematography: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)Best Choreography: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)Best Visual Effects: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)Best Long Form Video: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film) As the live audience reacted to the dig at Carpenter's entourage, she herself was reduced to fits of nervous laughter while standing beside MadonnaThis Sunday, she and Carpenter delivered a rendition of Bring Your Love and Charli XCX then hit the stage for her new duet with Madonna, Danceteria Afterhours.The original version of Danceteria was a solo track by Madonna, featured on her latest album Confessions II, which was released in July and serves as a sequel to her smash hit 2005 album Confessions on a Dance Floor. Bring Your Love was in contention for two prizes - best collaboration, which it has won, and for one of the top prizes of the night, song of the year.Certain other categories pitted the two pop stars against one another, such as the coveted prize for video of the year, in which Madonna's Confessions II (The Film) won out, sweeping aside Carpenter's clip for Tears. Madonna was most nominated artist at this year's VMAs with 11 nods to her name, narrowly beating Taylor Swift's nine. Madonna ended up scooping seven awards, while Swift won three. Nevertheless, Swift was triumphant after being announced as the winner of the inaugural Artist Director Honors Award, her 33rd Moon Man trophy.She is now the artist with the most VMA wins in history, having previously been tied with Beyonce, who is now in second place with 30 gongs to her name.Madonna famously performed at the first-ever VMAs in 1984, bursting from a gigantic wedding cake while dressed in a bridal gown for a rendition of Like a Virgin.She has emerged as a reliable engine of memorable moments at the fete, where she ignited a fan frenzy in 2003 via her lip-lock with Spears.MTV Video Music Awards 2026 WINNERS VIDEO OF THE YEARAriana Grande - Hate That I Made You Love MeBruno Mars - I Just MightGener8ion (starring Yung Lean - StormMadonna - Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter - TearsTaylor Swift - The Fate of Ophelia - WINNER Taylor Swift earned top honor Video of the Year to break an epic record ARTIST OF THE YEARAriana GrandeBruno MarsMadonna - WINNERMorgan WallenSabrina CarpenterTaylor Swift SONG OF THE YEARBTS - Swim - WINNERElla Langley - Choosin' TexasHuntr/x - GoldenMadonna and Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your LoveOlivia Dean - Man I NeedRaye - Where Is My HusbandBEST NEW ARTISTBella KayCortisMagnus FerrellMalcolm ToddMyles SmithSienna Spiro - WINNERStella Lefty British singer took home the coveted Best New Artist gongBEST COLLABORATIONClipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice – Chains & WhipsFrench Montana and Max B – Ever Since U Left MeMadonna and Sabrina Carpenter - Bring Your Love - WINNERPinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideShakira and Burna Boy – Dai DaiTeyana Taylor and Lucky Daye – Hard PartBEST POPAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeCharli XCX – SS26Lisa – Dream - WINNEROlivia Rodrigo – Drop DeadSabrina Carpenter – House TourTate McRae – Nobody’s GirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST HIP-HOPCardi B featuring Kehlani – Safe - WINNERDon Toliver – E85Drake – Janice STFUMegan Thee Stallion – Lover GirlTravis Scott – DumboTyler, The Creator – Sugar on My TongueBEST R&BBruno Mars – I Just Might - WINNERChris Brown – It Depends/ObviousDave & Tems – RaindanceJustin Bieber – YukonKehlani – FoldedMariah The Scientist and Kali Uchis – Is It a CrimeBEST ALTERNATIVEGeese – TaxesMGK and Fred Durst – Fix Ur FaceNoah Kahan – The Great DivideOlivia Rodrigo – The Cure - WINNERSombr – HomewreckerTame Impala – DraculaTwenty One Pilots – Drag PathBEST DANCEBebe Rexha and Faithless – New ReligionHarry Styles – ApertureLady Gaga and Doechii – RunwayMadonna – Confessions II (The Film) - WINNERPinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideSlayyyter – Dance...Tate McRae – Nobody’s Girl BEST LATINAnitta and Shakira – Choka ChokaBad Bunny – NUEVAYoL - WINNERFuerza Regida – Tu SanchoKarol G – PapasitoRosalía – La PerlaRyan Castro, Kapo and Gangsta – La VillaShakira and Burna Boy – Dai DaiBEST K-POPBlackpink – JumpBTS – Swim - WINNERCortis – RedredKatseye – Pinky UpLe Sserafim – SpaghettiLisa – Dream BEST COUNTRYElla Langley – Choosin’ Texas - WINNERKacey Musgraves – Dry SpellLainey Wilson – Somewhere over LaredoLuke Combs – Back in the SaddleShaboozey – CowgirlStella Lefty – BostonTucker Wetmore – BrunetteBEST DIRECTIONAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love meBruno Mars – I Just MightGener8ion – StormMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter – House TourTaylor Swift – Opalite - WINNERBEST CINEMATOGRAPHYAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeA$AP Rocky – Punk RockyLisa – DreamMadonna – Confessions II (The Film) - WINNERShaboozey – CowgirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia Madonna dominated as she earned the most wins with seven BEST EDITINGAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love MeBruno Mars – I Just MightLisa – DreamMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)Sabrina Carpenter – House Tour - WINNERTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia Sabrina took home Best Editing for House Tour as she accepted Best Collaboration with MadonnaBEST CHOREOGRAPHYGener8ion – StormHarry Styles – Dance No MoreKatseye – Pinky UpMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)n - WINNERTate McRae – Nobody’s GirlTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST VISUAL EFFECTSAriana Grande – Hate That I Made You Love Me - WINNERJisoo and Zayn – Eyes ClosedMadonna – Confessions II (The Film) - WINNERPinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – StatesideRaye – Click Clack SymphonyTaylor Swift – The Fate of OpheliaBEST ART DIRECTIONCharli XCX – SS26Lady Gaga and Doechii – RunwayMadonna – Confessions II (The Film)PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson – Stateside - WINNERSombr – My Body Isn’t ReadyTaylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia PinkPantheress earned Best Art Direction alongside Zara Larsson for Stateside