A lot of things happened during MTV’s mini-series-length 2023 Video Music Awards on Tuesday night (Sept. 12). But one of the the buzziest moments from the show at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ didn’t even take place on camera during the official feed, it was a blink-and-you-missed-it event backstage when Megan met Justin.
As seen in a widely circulated viral clip, Justin Timberlake and the reunited members of *NSYNC were walking behind the scenes as they strolled by Megan Thee Stallion getting a hair and makeup touch-up. On the surface, it looks like a heated Meg is wagging her finger in an agitated manner as JT smiles and greets her and bandmate Joey Fatone laughs in what some commenters said appeared to be an argument, but according to a source who was there, the interaction was all love.
A source close to the situation who witnessed the old school-new school superstar summit tells Billboard that Megan was actually so excited to meet JT and company that she was actually asking for a proper introduction and re-do in a less chaotic situation. “Meg loves Justin. She was saying, ‘No, no, no, we’ve never met before. It was their first time meeting, and she was excited,” the source says.
ET reported that a source said Timberlake told the “Sweetest Pie” rapper, “‘It’s so nice to meet you,’” with Megan replying, “No, no, this don’t count, this don’t count, we gotta meet proper.’”
At press time spokespeople for Megan and Timberlake could not be reached for comment on the incident. Both artists had a big night on Tuesday, with Timberlake reuniting with his fellow boy banders for a surprise best pop prize presentation to an equally gobsmacked Taylor Swift and Megan taking the stage later in the night with Cardi B for the live debut of their salacious new single, “Bongos.”
Check out the viral video of the interaction here.
This story originally appeared on Billboard
