MTV VMAs Most Memorable Moments: Taylor Swift’s Big Wins, Chappell Roan’s Performance and Medleys From Katy Perry and LL Cool J
The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards were handed out Wednesday night in New York. The Hollywood Reporter has rounded up the biggest moments from the show.
Taylor Swift Remembers 9/11…
Taylor Swift took a moment to remember the tragedy of the 9/11 terrorist attacks when she accepted her first award during the telecast at the 2024 MTV VMAs. Taking the stage to accept her best collaboration Moon Person with “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone, Swift began by reflecting on the 23rd anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attack on New York’s World Trade Center. “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,” Swift said. “And that is the most important thing about today. And everything that happens tonight falls behind that.” Read more. — Hilary Lewis
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…And Wins Big
Swift took home the most coveted award of the night at the MTV Video Music Awards, breaking several records with the win. The superstar won video of the year for her song “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone. Swift won seven VMAs this year, bringing her all-time total to 30, tying her with Beyoncé for most VMA wins of all time. After being presented the trophy by VMAs host Megan Thee Stallion, Swift took to the stage to share her appreciation for her fans and everyone who helped bring the music video to life. Read more. — Carly Thomas
Chappell Roan Calls Out Photographer on Red Carpet…
Chappell Roan stood up for herself at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards after a rude encounter. Roan, who made her VMAs performance debut Wednesday night, posed on the red carpet in a medieval-inspired getup. In a clip shared by Entertainment Tonight, a photographer seemed to tell her to “Shut the fuck up” after she turned away from the camera. The “Hot to Go” singer quickly reacted, telling the photographer, “You shut the fuck up!” She added, “Don’t! Not me, bitch!” Someone in the background was heard cheering her on, remarking, “Tell ’em, girl!” When asked about the incident by an Entertainment Tonight reporter, Roan explained, “It’s quite overwhelming and quite scary. I think for someone who gets…a lot of…anxiety around people yelling at you…the carpet is horrifying.” Read more. — Tatiana Tenreyro
…And Offers Fierce Performance of “Good Luck, Babe”
Roan took to the stage to perform her hit song “Good Luck, Babe.” After being introduced by Sasha Colby as “your favorite drag queen’s favorite artist,” the singer appeared in a medieval armor–inspired costume as a castle erupted in flames behind her. Throughout the fierce performance, Roan didn’t hold back on her vocals as dancers dressed in medieval-inspired attire showed off their moves around her. Read more. — Carly Thomas
VMAs Host Megan Thee Stallion: “I Deserve a Gold Medal for Being a Bad B****”
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion acted as an energetic and engaging host the VMAs. The 29-year-old kicked off the night in a one-shoulder leotard, reminiscent of one that might be worn by an Olympic gymnast. Megan gave a shout-out to gold medalist and fellow Houston native Simone Biles, joking that Biles let her borrow the outfit and she made a few changes. “I deserve a gold medal for being a bad bitch,” Megan joked. The VMAs spent the night celebrating 40 years of the award show, looking back on big moments of the past. Megan opted to pay homage herself, coming out with a real snake in honor of Britney Spears’ iconic 2001 performance. She even sported Spears’ immediately recognizable outfit. Read more. — Nicole Fell
Shawn Mendes Debuts New Single “Nobody Knows”
Shawn Mendes debuted his new single “Nobody Knows” off his upcoming self-titled album, at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. The song appears to comment on his breakup with Camila Cabello, who also performed Wednesday night, as he questions, “When you’re so in love and souls touch but it’s still not enough where does it go? Nobody knows.” In contrast to the other performances of the night, Mendes’ was more pared down, with the artist playing acoustic guitar, accompanied by drums and electric guitar. Read more. — Tatiana Tenreyro
Sabrina Carpenter Gives Out of This World Performance
Sabrina Carpenter gave a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards that was quite literally out of this world Wednesday night. After being introduced by legendary singer Cyndi Lauper, Carpenter performed some of her biggest hits from this summer, including “Please Please Please,” “Taste” and “Espresso.” Sporting a silver, sparkly outfit, the artist kicked off her performance from the sky on a swing with “Taste.” After being lowered to the stage, Carpenter was then joined by an alien and astronaut as they danced around on a set that resembled the moon in space. Read more. — Carly Thomas
Blackpink’s Lisa Is a Red-Hot “Rockstar” in Fiery Solo VMA Debut
Blackpink’s Lisa can add an electric VMAs performance to her ever-growing list of accolades this year. The 27-year-old Thai singer and rapper, whose real name is Lalisa Manobal, took to the stage early in the night for her first solo performance at MTV’s Video Music Awards. Decked out in an all-red outfit, the singer kicked off a two-song medley with her recent single “New Woman.” During the short performance of “New Woman,” which normally features Spanish singer and songwriter Rosalía, Lisa showcased her vocal range and dancing abilities, performing a portion of the song dancing around matching red chairs. Lisa quickly transitioned into her hit summer single “Rockstar.” The energetic performance lit up the stage — quite literally, as the star opted for added fire effects behind the stage. Read more. — Nicole Fell
Halsey Rocks Out in a Garage for Performance of “Ego”
Halsey returned to the MTV Video Music Awards stage Wednesday night with a performance of her new song “Ego.” After riding up to a house on the stage on a bicycle, the singer pulled up a garage door to reveal her band waiting inside. Halsey quickly grabbed her guitar and proceeded to rock out in the garage, performing the single off her upcoming album, The Great Impersonator. Halsey’s return to the VMA stage comes years after her last performance at the awards show in 2016, when she teamed up with The Chainsmokers for their collab “Closer.” The “Bad at Love” singer has also previously been nominated for seven VMAs. Read more. — Carly Thomas
Eminem Calls Back to Platinum-Blond Slim Shady Era With “Houdini” Performance
Eminem’s latest album may be called The Death of Slim Shady, but for his first TV performance from the album, the rapper brought back his platinum-haired alter ego, along with a horde of look-alikes. In an opening reminiscent of his 2000 VMAs performance of “Real Slim Shady” and “The Way I Am,” in which Eminem was accompanied by 100 look-alikes, the rapper kicked off the 2024 VMAs and his “Houdini” performance by entering Long Island’s UBS Arena sporting a platinum-blond wig, joined by many men with the same hair. Before going inside the arena, the 2024 MTV VMAs showed a Bat-Signal-like “E” in the sky. When Eminem and his doppelg?ngers reached the stage, he wove among them as he continued to perform. He then segued into “Somebody Save Me,” ditching the wig for a black hat, looking more like his modern self. Read more. — Hilary Lewis
Katy Perry Accepts Video Vanguard Honor
Katy Perry was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. She was introduced by partner Orlando Bloom and performed a medley of her greatest hits before accepting her award. “Oh my God!,” Perry exclaimed. “I did that all too on the first day of my period, if you can believe it!” She thanked MTV for “believing in [her] weirdness from day one and for helping artists extend their worlds.” “There are so many things that have to align to have a long and successful career as an artist,” she said. “There are no decade-long accidents.” She thanked her team, who has been with her for “over 20 years” and her label, Capitol Records. “Trust me, it takes a village of strong people, a lot of healthy discourse and a lot of group chats.” Read more. — Tatiana Tenreyro
LL Cool J Brings Energy With Medley of His Classic Hits and New Songs
LL Cool J hit the MTV VMAs stage with a medley of his classic hits and new tunes to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Def Jam Records. The rapper — whose performance featured an appearance by Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav and Chuck D, who are two of LL’s original Def Jam labelmates — took to the stage toward the end of the three-hour show. LL kicked off the high-energy performance with “Headsprung,” with the audience members wearing the rapper’s signature Kangol hats, all in red. The cameras then cut to several people in the audience holding signs of goats, with LL rapping his song “The G.O.A.T.,” when Flavor Flav and Chuck D joined him onstage for a performance of their own “Bring the Noise.” Read more. — Kimberly Nordyke
Camila Cabello Gives Angsty “June Gloom” Performance
Camila Cabello performed “June Gloom” off her new LP C,XOXO at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, airing live from the UBS Arena on Long Island. The pop star’s performance started with a video clip featuring her blonde look from this album cycle, playing from a laptop. The camera then zoomed out to show a brunette Cabello singing from a glass box, performing directly into a camera while surrounded by balaclava-clad dancers and flashing lights. In a shocking move, Cabello smashed the laptop and exited the encasement. Her dancers unmasked before crowding around her, ending the performance by striking a pose. Read more. — Tatiana Tenreyro
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