Body language expert breaks down Ariana Grande's 'staged' reaction to Ozzy Osbourne tribute

A body language expert has examined Ariana Grande's 'performative' reaction to the Ozzy Osbourne tribute at the VMAs.

The pop icon was all the rage at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday (September 7) night, having swept the ceremony with several accolades.

Grande took home the Video of the Year, Best Longform Video and Best Pop awards for her track 'Brighter Days Ahead,' acknowledging her father for his cameo, and giving a lengthy shout-out to all her collaborators and people she worked with in her acceptance speeches, as well as 'my therapist and gay people.'

It was also a big night for Lady Gaga, crowned Artist Of The Year among three other awards, and Sabrina Carpenter who also bagged three Moon Person trophies including Best Pop Artist.

During the show, the VMAs also honored the former Black Sabbath frontman, Ozzy Osbourne, who died at the age of 76 from a heart attack in July this year.

British singer Yungblud joined forces with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry from Aerosmith, as well as Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, to perform some of Ozzy's top hits, including 'Crazy Train', 'Changes' and 'Mama, I’m Coming Home.'

Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter were both big winners of the night (Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)

While the emotional tribute paid homage to Ozzy's legacy and gripped viewers and attendees alike, Grande's apparently impressed reaction to the performance became a viral moment of its own.

The 'Yes, And?' hitmaker could be seen throwing her hands in the air and shaking her head in shock, saying: "What?!"

Now, body language expert Beth Dawson has weighed in on Grande's over-the-top response, stating that her reaction 'is very performative but there isn't much spontaneity.'

"She throws her hands in the air, eyebrows raised, mouth wide open, blinking rapidly and mouthing 'what' and 'oh my god.' At one point she covers her ears, at another she stretches her hands dramatically toward the stage," Beth explained.

The expert says most of her reaction was staged - but it's part of her brand (Twitter/@PopCrave)

“Yet her actual applause is surprisingly restrained. She is lightly clapping and it doesn’t match the size of her facial expressions. The contrast between the big gestures and the minimal applause makes the moment feel staged.”

The expert suspects Grande became 'aware of the cameras' following her every move, adding that she 'lean[ed] into the performance.'

"This isn’t genuine shock; it’s showmanship. Ariana is playing the wide-eyed audience member, amplifying the drama for viewers at home more than expressing genuine overwhelm, leaning into her role as the expressive star who reflects the energy back to the crowd.”

The trio dropped a show-stopping performance (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for MTV)

Dozens of viewers also said they believed the star knew she was on camera and commented that she was 'over acting.'

"Ariana Grande acts like she's never seen famous Rock Stars on stage before during Ozzy Osbourne’s Tribute at tonight’s VMA’s," said one on Twitter.

However, others appeared to love seeing her crash out to the heartfelt performance and felt it was genuine.

"She actually says “Steven f***ing Tyler is here!' I love it!" said another fan.

"What a cool reaction," chimed another.

Overall, Beth said Grande's gestures throughout the night were 'highly performative and staged.'

Some fans defended her, saying they would react similarly to the tribute (Twitter/@PopCrave)

"The 'little girl' perception doesn’t necessarily reflect who she is, but rather a mix of her branding, her body language, and how audiences interpret her," the body language expert explained.

"Even at 32, because her public persona leans so heavily on youthful signals, she’s often read as younger and more childlike and she leans into that image, with her wardrobe and ponytail hairstyle for example."