The 2003 MTV Video Music Awards featured a performance that remains one of the most talked-about moments in television history. This iconic event saw Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera share the stage for a rendition of “Like a Virgin” and “Hollywood.” The moment that captured everyone’s attention was the onstage kiss between Madonna and Britney Spears, but what is often forgotten is that Christina Aguilera also shared a kiss with Madonna.
The performance was a highlight of the 20th anniversary of the VMAs, bringing together two of the biggest pop artists of the time, Spears and Aguilera, alongside the legendary Madonna. Despite a long-standing feud between Spears and Aguilera, the performance was executed without any visible rivalry, according to producer Alex Coletti.
During the live broadcast, a decision by director Beth McCarthy-Miller to cut from the kiss between Spears and Madonna to show Justin Timberlake’s reaction inadvertently overshadowed Aguilera’s participation. Timberlake’s scowling reaction was deemed television gold, and the decision was praised by Coletti, who expressed no regrets about the choice.
As a result, Aguilera’s kiss with Madonna did not receive the same attention, leading to disappointment for Aguilera and her manager, who requested a re-edit for reruns to include her moment. Despite adjustments made for later broadcasts, the original moment became widely known as the “Britney/Madonna kiss,” leaving Aguilera’s involvement largely overlooked. Aguilera later expressed her dissatisfaction with the decision to focus on Timberlake, describing it as predictable and suggesting that Spears lip-synced the performance while she and Madonna sang live.
Despite the controversy, the moment remains an unforgettable part of VMA history, remembered primarily for the headline-grabbing kiss between Madonna and Spears.