On Sept. 11, the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), blew viewers away in their 40th annual award show. Here is what you missed.
This year’s show was held in Elmont, New York at the UBS Arena and was hosted by Megan Thee Stallion. The original date of the show was Sept. 10, but was rescheduled due to conflicts with the presidential debate.
Going into the show, Taylor Swift had received 12 nominations, more than any of the artists. Swift was the biggest winner this year, receiving awards for “Video of the Year,” “Artist of the Year,” “Best Collaboration,” “Best Pop,” “Best Direction,” “Best Editing” and “Song of the Summer.” Five of these were for her song, ‘Fortnight,’ featuring Post Malone.
Swift noted in her acceptance speech that each time she had finished a take in the recording of ‘Fortnight’, her boyfriend Travis Kelce was there to encourage her.
“When I would finish a take, I would always just hear someone cheering…from across the studio, and that one person was my boyfriend Travis,” said Swift.
Unlike previous years, Swift did not take the opportunity in her award acceptance to announce an album. Instead, she encouraged everyone to vote in the upcoming election.
“The fact that this is a fan-voted award, and you voted for this, I appreciate it so much, and if you are over 18 please register for something else that’s very important coming up,” Swift said.
Swift also took a moment to acknowledge the date of 9/11.
“Waking up this morning, in New York, on September 11, I’ve just been thinking about what happened 23 years ago, everyone who lost a loved one and everyone that we lost,” she said.
Typically, the VMAs is a stage for drama, and this year was no exception. Fans pointed out Sabrina Carpenter’s and Camila Cabello’s new songs, both referencing their own failed relationships with Shawn Mendes.
Cabello was dressed in funeral attire, stating that she was “having a funeral today for just everything that is negative, everything that doesn’t serve [her]”. Later, Mendes also posted on social media, wearing black attire, that he was “Pulling up to [his] own funeral”.
Chappell Roan also stole the show with her performance of her hit song “Good Luck, Babe,” dressed as Joan of Arc. Roan received an award for “Best New Artist” and gave a touching speech to queer children, specifically in the Midwest.
“And for all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now, I see you. I understand you, because I’m one of you. And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be, b—-,” said Roan.
Though the majority of the show wasn’t based on awards, performances from a variety of genres ensured there was something for everyone.
Performances included rock from Lenny Kravitz; pop from Halsey, Sabrina Carpenter, Camila Cabello, Benson Boone, Shawn Mendes and Chappell Roan; rap from Eminem, Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla and LL Cool J; Latin from Karol G, Anitta and Rauw Alejandro; and K-pop from LISA.
In honor of the 40th anniversary of the VMAs, there were flashbacks shown of some of the most memorable moments. These included Madonna and Britney Spears’s make out in 2003, Beyonce’s pregnancy announcement in 2011 and Micheal Jackson’s new bride in 1994.
