The ’08 show was a year before Kanye stole Taylor’s mic, five years before Miley would twerk on Robin Thicke, and nearly a decade before Katy signed on to host the 2017 installment. It was before the three ladies would not-so-quietly go their separate ways.

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And even though none of the impending drama had unfolded, the photos foreshadow a lifetime of weirdness between the trio.

Ahead of the big night, the three were grouped together and given MTV-branded microphones to chat from the red carpet.

Katy and Miley had already hit it off, holding hands and goofing off for the cameras for an extended dual photo shoot. Exhibits A and B:


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Then Taylor entered.

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Speaks for itself.

Of course, let’s not speculate too hard: That picture is probably just ill-timed. But other images from the segment are also pretty uncomfortable.

Take a look at Taylor looking a bit pained through the entire process — but looking much more at ease later in the night with then-boyfriend Joe Jonas and fellow pop icon Britney Spears.