After joining her boyfriend, Louis Partridge, at the Venice Film Festival during her tour break, Olivia Rodrigo chose to stay out of the public eye and not attend the MTV VMAs tonight.
Rodrigo is up for four awards this evening: Best Pop Artist, Best Cinematography ("obsessed"), Best Visual Effects ("get him back!"), and Best Art Direction ("bad idea right?").
[Partridge was by Rodrigo's side as she took the red carpet. She wore TK, while he complemented her in TK/Rodrigo arrived at the awards show on her own, wearing TK dress.] OR [Despite her nods, Rodrigo's absence makes a lot of sense, as she is nominated in more minor categories and isn't performing or presenting. Most of her awards categories are production-related rather than centered on her songwriting, and Rodrigo is on a break after touring for months.] She has been spending time in Europe and was spotted over the weekend in Manchester with Partridge.
Earlier this year, Rodrigo's Grammys appearance generated quite a bit of buzz, as fans were watching for her and Taylor Swift's interactions amid feud rumors. The VMAs [would've/will] put them back in the same room, as this year, Swift has 12 nominations -- more than any other artist. Additionally, Sabrina Carpenter, the blonde many believe Rodrigo references in her breakout hit "drivers license," has seven nominations.
Rodrigo isn't the drama type though and has said that much. She told Rolling Stone last September, "I don't have beef with anyone. I'm very chill. I keep to myself. I have my four friends and my mom, and that's really the only people I talk to, ever. There's nothing to say. There's so many Twitter conspiracy theories. I only look at alien-conspiracy theories."
The 21-year-old star did celebrate a major milestone on September 8, though: the one-year anniversary of her album Guts' release. She wrote on Instagram, "HAPPY ONE YEAR OF GUTS!!! this is me today happy as a clam, grateful as hell. thank you so much for all the love you've shown this album the past 365 days. life is fuckin magical!!!! 💓🌈❤️"