“Y’all, it was a pre-tape, not a time machine.”
So, picture this: You’re at the 2025 American Music Awards, dressed like you’re about to run into Zendaya and God at the same time. You’re hyped. You’re ready. The lights go down. The announcer yells, “And now… Blake Shelton LIVE!”
The crowd roars. The stage lights up. And then… BAM!
It’s a video. A big ol’ pre-recorded video of Blake and Gwen Stefani crooning like it’s 2004 and they just discovered HD. No Blake. No Gwen. Just pixels, baby.
Naturally, the internet did what the internet does best: spiral into outrage with the speed of a Taylor Swift album drop. One fan on TikTok summed it up best:
“THEY SAID BLAKE WAS LIVE. THEY LIED. THE STAGE LIT UP LIKE HE WAS THERE, THEN BAM, IT’S A MOVIE SCREEN.”
Translation: emotional damage.
But don’t worry, Blake Shelton – country king, hair gel enthusiast, and former Voice chair decorator – took to Twitter (yes, it still exists) to address the drama like the chill uncle at a barbecue who just wants to grill in peace:
“Just now seeing these stories about Gwen and I pretaping our performances for the AMA’s. We came and performed when the show asked us to.. Really nothing else to say. 🤷♂️”
Which, in country speak, loosely translates to: “Y’all, the AMAs said ‘jump,’ we jumped. But like… on a Tuesday in a studio. Not on live TV. Don’t shoot the messenger.”
Gwen Stefani, meanwhile, has yet to comment, probably because she’s too busy looking flawless and turning plaid into couture.
- Blake and Gwen pre-taped.
- Fans were bamboozled.
- Twitter caught fire.
- Blake gave a shrug emoji.
Tune in next year when award shows start projecting holograms like it’s Coachella 2049.
Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to pre-record our disappointment.
Just now seeing these stories about Gwen and I pretaping our performances for the AMA’s. We came and performed when the show asked us to.. Really nothing else to say. 🤷♂️
— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) May 28, 2025