Justin Bieber opted to not make an in-person appearance for the MTV VMAs tonight with his wife Hailey Baldwin. The ceremony, being conducted in various outdoor locations in New York City,
also features some pre-recorded segments and speeches.
Bieber has an Artist of the Year nomination and Best Pop Song nomination (for "Intentions"), along with shared nominations with Ariana Grande for Best Collaboration and Best Music Video from Home for "Stuck With U." He and Grande won the Best Music Video from Home award, and neither made a speech.
Why weren't Bieber and Baldwin at the show in New York City? Since Bieber wasn't performing, the two likely opted to stay back in Los Angeles due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bieber was active earlier during the day on his Instagram, posting a selfie.
He was last photographed out in Los Angeles by paparazzi on Thursday. Bieber and Baldwin reportedly just bought a $25.8 million house in Beverly Hills.
Bieber has not attended an awards show since the Grammys in 2016. TMZ reported in January 2018 that Bieber will skip all award shows until his new album is released, and he has new music to perform and promote. Bieber finally released that album, Changes, on Valentine's Day 2020.
Had Bieber and Baldwin attended and posed on the red carpet in person, it would have been their first awards show red carpet as a married couple. The two made their general red carpet debut on January 27, 2020, at the premiere of his Justin Bieber: Seasons YouTube documentary series.
