Published : 08 Sep 2025, 06:07 PM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 01:46 PM
K-pop girl group Blackpink’s Rosé seemed stunned when her name was called for Song of the Year at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.
But on Sunday night, she arrived on stage prepared, pulling out a two-page speech she had written “just in case”.
The award, presented by Paris Hilton, honoured Rosé and Bruno Mars for their collaboration, “Apt”.
Accepting the trophy, Rosé’s excitement was evident as she began by thanking Mars for both his artistry and his friendship.
She then recalled being asked once about her greatest fear.
Her answer, she told the audience, was letting down her 16-year-old self, “an oddball among society,” as she put it, who had only dreamt of one day pursuing her ambitions with the same freedom she saw in others on television.
Rosé dedicated the award to that younger version of herself.
Switching between English and Korean, she went on to thank her fellow Blackpink members, her family and her team, according to American magazine the Rolling Stone.
Before leaving the stage, she added a more personal note, “As my therapist reminds me every day, I want to thank myself for not giving up, even in the toughest of times. Always remember you’ve got you.”
Other nominees for Song of the Year included Alex Warren’s "Ordinary", Billie Eilish’s "Birds of a Feather", Gracie Abrams’s "I Love You, I’m Sorry", Lady Gaga and Mars’s "Die With a Smile" and Tate McRae’s "Sports Car".
The ceremony, held at UBS Arena on Long Island and hosted by LL Cool J, saw Lady Gaga lead the field with 12 nominations.
Mariah Carey received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, while Busta Rhymes and Ricky Martin were recognised with the Rock the Bells Visionary Award and the Latin Icon Award, respectively.
