Fans watching the 2026 Grammys accused Miley Cyrus of being “disrespectful” toward Lady Gaga after a moment during the live broadcast appeared to show her subtly shading the pop superstar.
Both artists were nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album, alongside Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Teddy Swims. Gaga’s album Mayhem ultimately won, prompting an emotional reaction from the singer, who burst into tears as she accepted the award to a standing ovation. Fellow nominees, including Sabrina, were seen applauding her victory.
When the cameras cut to Miley, 33, she initially remained seated and appeared to whisper something to her fiancé, Maxx Morando, before eventually starting to clap—though she stayed seated while the rest of the audience stood.
Social media quickly reacted, with fans taking to X to criticize her behavior. “What’s this tea about Gaga and Miley not getting along? That Miley didn’t even clap for Gaga when she won BPVA,” one user wrote. Another commented, “I love Miley but not getting up for Gaga because she didn’t win… really ugly of her.” Several others called the move “shady,” while one posted, “Miley’s face during Lady Gaga winning? EXCUSE ME?!”
However, some viewers suggested Miley’s reaction might not have been about Gaga at all. The award was presented by Teyana Taylor and Nikki Glaser, and producer Andrew Watt—who contributed to Abracadabra, one of Gaga’s most successful tracks—was also on stage. Fans noted that Miley was rumored to have had a relationship with Watt around 2020, leading some to speculate that her expression reflected seeing her former partner rather than disapproval of Gaga. Neither Miley nor Watt have ever confirmed a romance.
Adding to Gaga’s success, she also took home the Best Dance/Pop Recording award during the ceremony, further cementing her standout night at the 2026 Grammys.
Miley’s moment may remain open to interpretation, but fans are divided on whether it was a subtle slight or simply a private reaction caught on live TV.
