Rosé's heartfelt personal speech truly deserves a cascade of red hearts, a million red hearts! At the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, the Blackpink sensation found herself overwhelmed with emotion as she clinched the Song of the Year award for her captivating duet with Bruno Mars, "APT." Accepting the trophy on September 7 at the UBS Arena in New York, Rosé shared some profoundly moving wisdom she'd received. (Check out the full list of winners here.)
"As my therapist advises me daily, I'd like to extend my gratitude to myself," she declared, her voice tinged with emotion. "For not surrendering, even during the darkest hours. And always remember: You've got your own back."
The 28-year-old artist, who was nominated for a staggering nine VMAs, took these words to heart, even dedicating her award to her 16-year-old self. "Someone recently asked me about my greatest fear in life, and I was taken aback by my own answer. I had no clue how deeply personal this journey had become for me," Rosé reflected. "I told them I was afraid that somewhere along the path of chasing my dreams, I might hit a brick wall and, in doing so, disappoint my 16-year-old self—a self who always felt like an oddball in a society that yearned to be herself and pursue her dreams just as fiercely as anyone she saw on television."
In addition to introspection, Rosé also got emotional while expressing her gratitude to her collaborator. "Bruno, my absolute hero and incredible mentor," she said onstage, her eyes glistening. "I adore you so much. I hope you're proud."
"I can't believe this," Rosé continued, her voice trembling with excitement. "I'll call you later, so I'll save all my thanks for then. Thank you so much for believing in me and helping me co-create this magical world. I'm eternally grateful for you and our friendship."
Indeed, she had much to celebrate that evening, as "APT" had earned her nominations for Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Pop, and more, amassing a staggering 2 billion streams on YouTube. And collaborating with Bruno was just the icing on the cake. "I'm his biggest fan," she confessed to iHeartRadio in 2024. "I had just gotten my driver's license, so I spent a year driving around, blasting all his songs."
So, when her label asked her to pitch three songs to him, she called it a "dream come true," but she knew the track inspired by a Korean drinking game "had to be" the one. Collaborating with Bruno wasn't the only time Rosé had been starstruck since her meteoric rise to fame; some of her most cherished memories—and celebrity encounters—have occurred backstage at glamorous red-carpet events.
She recounted one such "crazy moment" after receiving an invite to the 2021 Met Gala, where she accidentally met Rihanna when a security guard introduced them inside the ball. "The guy goes, 'Do you know Blackpink? Do you know Blackpink Rosé?' And she literally turns around and grabs both my hands," the K-pop sensation told Vogue in 2024. "She's like, 'I know you. You guys are doing so well. Keep up the good work.' And she gave me the biggest hug."
Rosé was too stunned to speak, noting, "I didn't know what to say. I was just like, 'Thank you so much.' How crazy is that? I remember being sad while washing my hands afterward."
She experienced another pinch-me moment at an Oscars after-party in 2024 when she received some fashion advice from Jennifer Lawrence in the bathroom. Rosé was debating with a friend whether to wear her more practical vision glasses or some cool shades. "I was like, 'Should I wear these glasses? Or should I wear the sunglasses? Tell me what looks better,'" she recalled. "I was like, 'I'm gonna have to wear the glasses; otherwise, I'm gonna be blind.'"
"We were discussing it, and then somebody walks out of the bathroom, and she's like, 'I don't know what you're talking about, but take it off,'" Rosé laughed. "We look back, and it's Jennifer Lawrence. As in, take the shades off. She's like, 'Just don't talk to my husband in them.'"
