Steven Tyler’s daughter defends VMA Performance
When Steven Tyler and Joe Perry walked on stage at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, it wasn’t just an Aerosmith reunion. The legendary rockers joined forces with British rocker Yungblud for a fiery tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. Osbourne was Yungblud’s hero, and the two shared a special bond. The Yungblud/Steven Tyler pairing sparked immediate backlash online — some praising the crossover, and others trashing Yungblud. But for Steven’s daughter Mia Tyler, there was no question: this was rock and roll at its best.
Mia took to Facebook after the show to share a lengthy post that captured both her pride and her frustration with the response to the performance. She opened with a reminder of what rock and roll has always stood for:
“In my own rock n roll mom opinion… Rock and roll has always been about rebellion, truth, and breaking down walls. Every generation has its voice, musicians who dare to belt out the things others are afraid to say. We’re in an odd place in life right now where our musical hero’s are dying, retiring or just not being available the way they used to be anymore… with that being said…”
The VMAs performance was a celebration of Ozzy’s legacy, with Yungblud belting alongside Tyler during a raucous medley that included “Crazy Train”. Some fans called it chaotic, but Mia argued that chaos is the point.
“People try to tear down what they don’t understand, but let’s be clear: music is not meant to fit neatly inside someone else’s idea of ‘acceptable.’ Rock was born to rattle cages, stir emotions, and challenge the status quo. My dad and Aerosmith embodied that spirit for decades. Leading the path for young new artists like Yungblud to carry it forward.”
She praised Yungblud for not shrinking next to one of rock’s most iconic figures. Instead, he embraced the moment, throwing himself into the performance with the same reckless abandon that earned him a new generation of rock fans.
“When Yungblud stepped on stage beside my father, one of the greatest frontmen and rock legends of all time, he didn’t try to imitate, compete, or shrink himself. Instead, he did what real authentic artists do, he showed up as himself… Performing alongside a legend didn’t intimidate him, it elevated him.”
As social media lit up with mixed reviews, Mia pulled no punches defending the collaboration. She saw it as a passing of the torch — from one rock era to another. Ozzy himself was a huge Yungblud fan, with the two having an emotional moment at the last Black Sabbath show.
“To anyone with something negative to say: SHAME ON YOU! … Rock is chaos, freedom, and honesty. Yungblud embodies all of that! … You are a douche canoe if you have anything negative to say about that incredible performance… That kid’s a true rockstar.”
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Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Yungblud and Nuno Bettencourt pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at The 2025 MTV VMAs. pic.twitter.com/32GhZHIk3s
— THIS DAY IN METAL (@ThisDayInMETAL) September 8, 2025
In the end, Mia revealed that she watched the performance with her young son, who was inspired by Yungblud’s charisma next to his grandfather. For her, that moment mattered more than the critics.
“When my son and I were watching my dad’s performance at the VMAs, I told Axe, ‘look at that kid’s charisma. Look how he stands up there with Papa, the king of charisma, and still shines. That kid’s a true rockstar. He’s got grit. You can be just like that if you want to.’ Axe smiled and agreed. And that’s the best thing we can ask for with this next generation.”
Mia’s message is clear: rock and roll isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about the next generation. And in her eyes, Yungblud proved that Gene Simmons is wrong: rock is not dead.
