The final edit of " What About Us ? " worldpremiered at the end of its '' Making the Video '' episode on MTV on January 10 , 2002 . It debuted on the network 's '' Total Request Live '' top ten video countdown on January 25 . The video entered the MuchMusic '' Countdown '' in Canada in the week ending February 8 , and it peaked at number seven in the week ending February 22 . The video generally mixed reviews by critics , who called it " a surprisingly hard , ostensibly angry , and not very adventurous video " and compared it to Norwood 's '' Matrix '' - influenced remix video for U Do n't Know Me ( Like U Used To ) " . It was nominated for the Viewer 's Choice Award at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards but lost to Michelle Branch 's video for " Everywhere "
2002 MTV Video Music Awards
2002 MTV Video Music Awards
What About Us? (Brandy song)