Updated on September 20, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. ET:
Megan Thee Stallion is setting the record straight about that viral video with Justin Timberlake from backstage at the 2023 MTV VMAs.
"I freaking love Justin," Megan told PEOPLE of the fabricated drama between herself and The 20/20 Experience singer. “First of all, I do not have any apps on my phone social media-wise except for TikTok. But when somebody asked me, 'Were you fighting with Justin Timberlake?' I said, 'Why would you say that? In what world would Megan Thee Stallion be fighting with Justin Timberlake? What are you talking about?'”
Turns out there was never any bad blood between the two stars — Megan's body language is just naturally animated. “I just talk with my hands. So I was telling him, 'No, I didn't really get to meet you. This does not count.' I had my in-ears in,” Megan explained, noting that the interaction happened right before her debut performance of "Bongos" with Cardi B. "I couldn't hear what he was really saying, but we talked after and I was like, 'Oh man, they think I'm back here tussling with Justin Timberlake.'" According to the rapper, it was a “cute moment” and nothing to concoct stories about — there was never any beef, never any drama, just love. "That is so foolish," she continued. “I'm like, 'Dude, we're just back here trying to bring sexy back. Y'all think we fighting and sh*t?'”
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“Justin we gotta bring sexy back back,” Megan told ET of a potential collaboration with the *NSYNC superstar. Maybe if that rumored *NSYNC reunion tour or album does become a reality or Timberlake drops a solo album, Megan Thee Stallion can hop on for a verse. We can dream, right?
Original story follows.
Previously (September 13, 2023):
No, Megan Thee Stallion did not get in a fight with Justin Timberlake at the MTV VMAs, despite what a viral video might have you believe. An 18-second clip of Megan and Timberlake engaged in what appears to be a heated conversation went viral during the ceremony on September 12. In the video, you see Megan getting her hair touched up backstage while Timberlake passes by with the rest of his *NSYNC bandmates.
Related: VMAs 2023: All the Best Moments & Surprises, From Taylor Swift to TXT
It looks like she's saying, “No, no, no” and pointing a finger at him, but the rapper was quick to shut down any rumors of beef between her and the Man of the Woods singer on social media. (If you watch the viral video ‘til the end, you can see Timberlake’s bandmate Joey Fatone laughing, which is a pretty big clue that this was a funny interaction, not a negative one.) The day after the show, Megan posted a short TikTok of herself and Timberlake at what looks like an after party dinner. “I just talk with my hands lol,” the rapper wrote, tagging Timberlake. “See you next time." The duo are all smiles and laughs, so clearly things are good.
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According to a source who was backstage and witnessed the encounter, it was the bustling backstage setting that caused the interaction in the first place; the two hadn't officially met yet, and Megan didn't want to introduce herself amidst the chaos. “He said, ‘It’s so nice to meet you,’ and she said ‘No, no this don’t count, this don’t count. We gotta meet proper,'" the source told Variety. Another source added,“Meg loves Justin. She was saying ‘No, no, no, we’ve never met before.’ It was their first time meeting and she was excited.”
