MTV Movie & TV Awards 2023: Internet in disbelief after Madison Bailey and Rudy Pankow's 'Best Kiss' win for 'Outer Banks'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: ‘Outer Banks’ stars Madison Bailey (Kiara) and Rudy Panknow (JJ) just took home the award for ‘Best Kiss’ at this year’s MTV Movie and TV Awards and without any guesses, broke the internet. The highly anticipated scene took place in the penultimate episode of the Netflix series and gave fans what they wanted. Since the beginning of the third season, it was quite evident that the makers are trying to show JJ and Kiara as a couple, but they waited till the end to make anything official.
In Episode 3 of 'Outer Banks' Season 3, the pair almost kiss on the boat before they get interrupted by Pope (Jonathan Daviss) who doesn’t seem too thrilled to be seeing his best friend and ex getting too close. However, in the penultimate episode, they both finally make their feelings known when JJ breaks into the camp and find Kiara. He apologizes to her, but Kiara responds by saying that she loves him. JJ says the same and the pair share a kiss together.
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JJ and Kiara's kiss was a pivotal moment in the story
The kiss was a pivotal moment of the show and was one of the main talking points this season. So, it didn’t come as a shock that the moment went on to win the aforementioned accolade. However, a large section of social media was unhappy with MTV for announcing Madison Bailey and Rudy Pankow as the winners and slammed the production giant for the same.
Fans say 'most awkward' and 'vanilla' kiss won the award
One of the fans wrote, “How did the most awkward, underwhelming, vanilla one win??? Even this moment has more chemistry.” Another social media user tweeted, “The most awkward kiss but okay.. and ofc you picked the straight kiss.” Another social media user tweeted, “We need the vote result!!!” Another social media user wrote, “Are you sure you counted correctly?”
How did the most awkward, underwhelming, vanilla one win??? Even this moment has more chemistry #Rigged pic.twitter.com/aTa2RqOsip
— Sarah Jayne 💙💚 🍋✌️ (@soppysomers) May 8, 2023
The most awkward kiss but okay.. and ofc you picked the straight kiss..
— lou&haz (@louandhazza_17) May 8, 2023
Meanwhile, there were some who said Harry Styles and David Dawson should have won the award for their kiss in ‘My Policeman’. One user wrote, “Harry styles and David Dawson should have won.” Another social media user tweeted, “You tryna tell me this wasn't rigged? how much did u get?” Another user noted, “FRAUD. STOP THE COUNT.”
Bailey and Pankow faced stiff competition in the category and included nominees like Anna Torv & Philip Prajoux, Harry Styles & David Dawson (‘My Policeman’), Riley Keough & Sam Claflin (Daisy Jones & The Six), and Selena Gomez & Cara Delevingne (‘Only Murders in the Building’).
The organizers had to cancel the LIVE broadcast of this year’s event due to the ongoing protest by the Writers Guild of America. The WGA labor union announced that it will hold a demonstration at the event amid the dispute and that’s why several notable personalities pulled out of the event. Drew Barrymore, who was set to host this year’s ceremony, also dropped out of the event and said she won’t be hosting the awards show because of the ongoing strike.
While announcing the news, executive producer Bruce Gillmer said, “As we carefully navigate how best to deliver the fan-first awards’ show we envisioned that our team has worked so hard to create, we’re pivoting away from a live event that still enables us to produce a memorable night full of exclusive sneak peeks, irreverent categories our audience has come to expect and countless moments that will both surprise and delight as we honor the best of film and TV over the past year.”
(This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online)