The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27th. And while the red carpet was full of bold, daring, head-turning and impressive looks, it also featured a handful of divisive outfits that didn’t go down well on social media.
After trawling the internet to see the public’s reactions, it seems like some of the MTV VMA red carpet misses came down to everything from ill-fitting pieces and mismatched styling to overly revealing, outdated or theatrical looks. “Wow fire their stylists,” slammed one fan in the comments section of a Daily Mail article discussing some of the red carpet fails.
“It must be a competition to see who can look the most ridiculous,” concurred a second, as a third chimed in: “This was bad, really really embarrassingly horrible.” A fourth said: “None of those outfits look nice.” “What a trashy mess!” exclaimed a fifth.
Take a look at some of the outfits that have been dividing social media below…
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Lisa Rinna
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star left fans scratching their heads in confusion when they saw her hit the red carpet in a dramatic sculpted white dress by SEKS. The strapless, figure-hugging design featured a molded bodice with faux nipple detailing, as well as a super-daring thigh-high slit and a sweeping train. She accessorized with sky-high platform white heels and wore her hair in a short blonde pixie 'do. She also went heavy on the dark eyeshadow and eyeliner, juxtaposed with a super-plump light pink lip.
"Does Lisa Rinna own a mirror? Or have friends? She's very ghoulish looking," slammed one Reddit user. "Lisa Rinna is by far the worst," added a second, as a third thought: "Lisa Rinna needs to be cancelled."
"She looks unbelievably deranged!" exclaimed a fourth, as a fifth said: "Everyone looks ridiculous."
Lisa
Lisa of Blackpink and The White Lotus fame seldom gets it wrong on stage or the red carpet – her 2025 Met Gala look still lives rent-free in our heads – but her VMAs look didn't go down as well with fans.
The "Rockstar" singer commanded attention in a sheer red lingerie-inspired gown by The Attico, which she teamed with a dramatic matching fuzzy coat by Quine Li. She completed the monochromatic look with a high ponytail, which many fans didn't think was her best look.
"It's a no for me," commented one Reddit user. "Fire every stylist and makeup artist involved with this whole look," demanded a second, as a third said: "I'm sorry but this does not look good."
"I don't think this is her color," noted a fourth, while a fifth said: "The actual dress is very pretty but I hate the furry coat." On the other hand, a sixth said: "I like the coat, don't love the dress. I'm just not a huge fan of see-through, and I don't feel like it works well here."
Tyla
The South African singer-songwriter was among the presenters at this year's ceremony, and chose to wear a divisive blue snakeskin-effect bra teamed with an ultra-low-rise pencil skirt from Mowalola's Spring/Summer 2027 collection.
The stylish "Push 2 Start" singer paired the barely-there two-piece – which some fans felt was a little too small for her and therefore didn't sit quite right – with a matching choker and pointed pumps in a contrasting snakeskin colorway, and finished off with a Chopard watch around her ankle.
"That is so ugly," slammed one Reddit user. "All this is, is a bra and a piece of fabric wrapped around her waist," criticized a second, as a third said: "She is beautiful but this is ill-fitting and looks cheap." "Hate this. And the way the shoes don't match at all," added a fourth.
"Why does her stylist insist on putting her in these awful outfits?" asked a fifth, as a sixth claimed: "Her stylist hates her." "This outfit will look better for a party [at] the beach and this skirt seems too small for Tyla," noted a seventh, as an eighth exclaimed: "Not the zipper coming undone!"
Sombr
Sombr, who was nominated for 'Best Alternative' for "Homewrecker" and 'Best Art Direction' for "My Body Isn't Ready," appeared topless in an ERL Fall/Winter 2026 faux-fur skunk coat and flared leather pants made from deadstock washed leather. The 21-year-old singer accessorized with a handmade silver and pearl chain by Tom Binns and a crystal and stone-encrusted belt buckle spelling out "Sex."
"He has the sex appeal of an Arby's sandwich," quipped one X user. "This is not the serve he thought this was," wrote a second, as a third said: "Can his stylist get fired or is that not an option?"
"Oh Sombr the mess you are," criticized a fourth, as a fifth said they "miss when men used to turn up in tuxedo suits to events."
Adam Lambert
The "Ghost Town" singer opted for a dramatic all-black look consisting of a custom Charles de Vilmorin black silk taffeta cape with dramatic bell sleeves and a sweeping train. He topped it off with an attention-grabbing feathered headpiece spelling out his own name, and finished off with black nail polish, dark eyeshadow and black earrings.
However, the internet wasn't impressed with the theatrical ensemble. "What in the Professor Snape is going on here?" asked one X user.
"Looks like he was at his hotel debating and decided to throw everything on last min," joked a second, as a third concurred: "Looks like he grabbed his shower curtain from his hotel." "He went to a Halloween shop and spent $35 on a costume?" mocked a fourth, as a fifth called him "Temu Lady Gaga." Ouch!
