Sabrina Carpenter took the stage tonight at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at Long Island’s UBS Arena to perform her Man’s Best Friend cut “Tears.” She emerged from a manhole into a throwback New York City scene. Around her, dancers and drag queens held up signs with messages of trans solidarity on them. The number culminated in some choreography complete with literal waterworks. Watch it happen below.

Carpenter is in the running for nine awards tonight, having earned nominations for Video of the Year, Best Album, Best Pop Artist, and many more for “Manchild.” Earlier this year, Carpenter won her first-ever Grammy Award, Best Pop Solo Performance, for the Short ’n Sweet breakout hit “Espresso.”

Tonight was Carpenter’s second time performing live at the VMAs, having made her debut at last year’s event to sing a medley of Short ’n Sweet singles. Also slated to take the stage this evening as musical guests are Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, among others.

Read about “Manchild” in “20 Contenders for the 2025 Song of the Summer” and follow along with all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.