Britney Spears and Madonna shocked the world by French-kissing — or playing “tonsil hockey,” as TIME’s Joel Stein described it — at the MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2003. Critics compared it to Michael Jackson smooching Lisa Marie Presley at the 1994 ceremony. The image was apparently so appalling to some people that The Atlanta Journal-Constitution had to apologize for placing it on the front page of the newspaper. And viewers who saw Miley Cyrus twerk on stage at the awards a decade later will chuckle at The Los Angeles Times description of the Britney-Madonna kiss: “The fact that this yawn-worthy Madonna shock tactic became the central topic of the show’s post-mortems indicates how low the once-essential showcase has sunk.”
17 Memorable Kisses Throughout History
Smooches to remember in time for Valentine's Day
Britney and Madonna Kiss
Full List
Kisses
- Auguste Rodin’s The Kiss
- Thomas Edison’s The Kiss
- Hershey’s Kisses
- V-J Day in Times Square Kiss
- The Kiss of Death
- KISS
- World Leaders Kiss
- Al and Tipper Gore Kiss
- Ray Bourque’s Stanley Cup Kiss
- Britney and Madonna Kiss
- Post-Stanley Cup Riots Kiss
- World Leaders Don’t Kiss
- The Obamas on The Kiss Cam
- The Fastest Runner Kiss
- The Longest Kiss
- TIME Covers of Same-Sex Couples Kisses:
- Speed Skaters Kiss