The band – who lost Cabello last December when she opted to quit – have avoided talking about her in recent interviews.
However, last night they acknowledged her exit in spectacular fashion.
As they kicked off a performance of their hits Down and Angel, fans were greeted by five – not four – silhouetted figures.
Within seconds, however, one of them fell backwards off the stage – and the lights came up on Dinah-Jane, Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei and Lauren Jauregui.
Later in the spectacular sing-song, Kordei even dropped into the splits – leaving Bebe Rexha, in the audience, visibly stunned.
Cabello has not acknowledged the dig on social media, although Kordei revealed that technical difficulties meant she couldn’t hear herself or the track.
She tweeted: “MY HEART WAS RACING TO MY ASS WHEN MY IN EARS AND PACK CAME OFF BEFORE DOWN… THANK YOU GOD FOR CARRYING ME THROUGH.
“I couldn’t hear anythingggggggggg aghhhhhhhhh.”
The band won Best Pop Video for their track Down, and were tearful as they took to the stage with Gucci Mane.
The prize marked their fourth MTV VMA, after they scooped Artist To Watch in 2014, and Best Collaboration and Song of Summer in 2016.
The group’s latest album Fifth Harmony is out now.