NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 12: (L-R) Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez and Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC speak onstage during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV)

MILLENNIALS, ALERT: NSYNC PRESENTED TOGETHER AT THE VMAS

Did you hear a chorus of millennials crying out at the same time? Were you there when we all cheered and cried and screamed “WHAT DOES THIS MEAN” along with Taylor Swift who had just won an award? That means you’re probably watching the VMAs! The MTV Video Music Awards celebrate the biggest stars in music and with an opening performance from Lil Wayne and Olivia Rodrigo, we knew the night was off to an exciting start.

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But nothing could really prepare us for who host Nicki Minaj would bring out to announce the award for Best Pop Song at this year’s ceremony. And honestly, who better to do it than NSYNC THEMSELVES. Yes, that’s right. Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, and Chris Kirkpatrick joined forces to come together and present Taylor Swift the award for her song “Anti-Hero” off her hit album Midnights.

Before Taylor Swift had a chance to know she’d won, fans stood up to scream and cheered for so long because it was like our childhood faves were back in action because…well, they were! Many millennials grew up in the midst of the boy band craze, including both Backstreet Boys and NSYNC as well as 98 Degrees and New Kids on the Block. It is why, frankly, I think a lot of us loved One Direction when they came around because it felt like a void was finally being filled once more where our beloved boy bands once stood.

It’s clear though that we have all missed them given how we reacted to just seeing them all standing together and how Swift reacted to them handing her the VMA. Swift won an award and her first order of business was to ask what it meant that NSYNC was back together on stage and honestly, she is sometimes very relatable but that was the most relatable she’s ever been.

It’s what we all deserve.

Look, some members have sang before together at events, most recently Lance Bass and Joey Fatone performed together and they have all sort of gone back and forth with one another. But nothing like a full reunion in a way that would have us wonder if we’re getting new NSYNC music but this might just give us enough information for us to start to think that something is afoot.

In that one moment, we all were transported back to our younger selves. We remembered what it was like to be young and in love with your favorite member of the band (I was always a JC Chasez girl) and it was magical. Hopefully, Taylor Swift was right and something is on the horizon for our favorites because the world needs more NSYNC music, right?

(featured image: Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV)


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Rachel Leishman
Rachel Leishman (She/Her) is an Assistant Editor at the Mary Sue. She's been a writer professionally since 2016 but was always obsessed with movies and television and writing about them growing up. A lover of Spider-Man and Wanda Maximoff's biggest defender, she has interests in all things nerdy and a cat named Benjamin Wyatt the cat. If you want to talk classic rock music or all things Harrison Ford, she's your girl but her interests span far and wide. Yes, she knows she looks like Florence Pugh. She has multiple podcasts, normally has opinions on any bit of pop culture, and can tell you can actors entire filmography off the top of her head. Her current obsession is Glen Powell's dog, Brisket. Her work at the Mary Sue often includes Star Wars, Marvel, DC, movie reviews, and interviews.