The 2024 MTV VMAs have been the present that stored on giving.
On Sept. 11, 2024, stars gathered at UBS Area in New York to acknowledge a few of the 12 months’s greatest in music, from Sabrina Carpenter‘s “Espresso” to Taylor Swift and Post Malone‘s “Fortnight.” Hosted by Megan Thee Stallion, the ceremony noticed performances by Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, LL Cool J and extra.
See 10 of the ceremony’s greatest moments, from Chappell Roan‘s show-stealing, Joan of Arc-inspired efficiency to Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry‘s onstage PDA.
Taste Flav Items Jordan Chiles a Bronze Clock and Olympic Prize Cash
Outspoken Group USA fan Flavor Flav hit the stage with Olympian Jordan Chiles to current the primary award of the night time — for greatest collaboration — and whereas Taylor Swift and Post Malone took dwelling the Moon Individual, Chiles was offered a prize of her own.
In response to the information that Chiles had been stripped of her gymnastics bronze medal, the 65-year-old Public Enemy rapper offered Chiles with a bronze clock necklace — a present he had beforehand teased on social media. Along with the brand new accent, he additionally mentioned he would pay her the money award she would have been awarded as a third-place finisher.
“And guess what else, too,” Flav mentioned on stage. “I acquired your prize cash … I simply needed to shock you with that. I did not need to say nothing to you backstage.”
“However Jordan, you probably did your factor,” he advised her. “Congratulations. You deserve all the things.”
Taylor Swift and Submit Malone Share a Candy Acceptance Speech
Taylor Swift began off this 12 months’s VMAs robust, taking dwelling the primary Moon Individual of the night time for greatest collaboration for The Tortured Poets Department single, “Fortnight” with Post Malone.
“There’s a very clear cause why Submit Malone is everybody in music’s favourite particular person to collaborate with,” Swift began, before addressing the musician: “It’s since you are so ridiculously gifted. You might be so versatile, and also you’re essentially the most down-to-earth particular person.”
Malone complimented Swift in return, sharing that although he was at “an absolute loss for phrases,” she is “one of the crucial variety and gifted individuals I’ve ever had the glory of understanding.”
Megan Thee Stallion Pays Homage to an Iconic Britney Spears VMAs Outfit
Although Megan Thee Stallion sported varied ensembles all through her night time as host, one outfit particularly was particularly noteworthy because it paid tribute to one in every of Britney Spears’ iconic “I’m a Slave 4 U” efficiency on the 2001 VMAs. Megan emulated the look to a tee full with a inexperienced bra prime and a yellow reside snake — although she was decidedly much less thrilled about her serpentine encounter and referred to as for it to be eliminated midway by way of her introduction.
Megan wasn’t the only one to shout-out Spears in style: Tate McRae’s Roberto Cavalli costume worn over Fleur du Mal lingerie echoed the navy minidress that Spears wore on the purple carpet in 2001 …
Sabrina Carpenter References Britney Spears and Kisses an Alien in Medley
…and Sabrina Carpenter’s medley performance not solely featured an out-of-this-world set full with astronauts and an alien, throughout her transition from “Please Please Please” to “Style” the spoken interlude from Spears’ “Oops!…I Did It Once more” performed within the background.
And if that weren’t sufficient to get followers buzzing, Carpenter additionally planted one on the alien earlier than launching into “Espresso.”
Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry Kiss Earlier than Her Video Vanguard Speech
When it was time for Katy Perry to take the stage to perform because the recipient of this 12 months’s Video Vanguard Award, she had a really particular somebody current her to the viewers.
“You fell in love together with her as Katy Perry. I really feel in love together with her as Katheryn Hudson,” Perry’s longtime accomplice Orlando Bloom started his speech.
“You already know her as a world famous person who brings love, gentle and her distinctive humorousness to each music she writes and music video she creates,” he continued. “I do know her as a mom, as a accomplice, who brings that very same love and pleasure to our household.”
Following Bloom’s candy introduction, Perry carried out a medley of her largest hits. On the conclusion, she was met with Bloom, a kiss and her brand-new trophy.
Chappell Roan Units the Stage on Hearth in Debut Awards Present Efficiency
In her extremely anticipated awards present debut, Chappell Roan didn’t disappoint. On the red carpet, she teased the medieval theme of her efficiency with a cape, a sword and an accompanying knight. Then for the efficiency, launched by one in every of her drag queen position fashions, Sasha Colby, the “Scorching to Go!” singer started by taking pictures a flaming crossbow on the citadel set. Sporting a go well with of armor, Roan delivered a vocally spectacular rendition of her music “Good Luck, Babe!” whereas dancing with sword-wielding knights.
As she concluded the music kneeling on the entrance of the stage, the gang within the UBS Area erupted in cheers.
Halsey Rocks Out in a Storage
After pulling as much as the purple carpet within the same Versace dress that Elizabeth Hurley wore to the VMAs in 1996, Halsey continued the throwback theme with an ’00s-inflected efficiency of her newest single “Ego.” The singer-songwriter rocked out together with her electrical guitar in a storage set together with her band, which included Måneskin bassist Victoria De Angelis. Taking the viewers again to pop rock’s peak within the early-aughts, she wore a sleeveless, collared shirt and a black tie with cutoff denims and Converse.
Chappell Roan Offers a Heartfelt Greatest New Artist Acceptance Speech
Roan claimed her first Moon Individual trophy with a best new artist win in opposition to Gracie Abrams and Tyla. Accepting the statuette in her third look of the night time, a chainmail costume, Roan started her speech with a shoutout to MTV, her report label, family and friends. She then expressed gratitude to pull artists, queer and trans individuals who “gas pop” and homosexual people who “dedicate my songs to somebody they love — or hate.”
“Thanks to the people who find themselves followers, who hearken to me, who hear me Once I share my pleasure and my fears,” continued the singer, who not too long ago expressed her anxieties about fame.
She concluded, “And for all of the queer children within the Midwest watching proper now, I see you. I perceive you, as a result of I am one in every of you, and do not ever let anybody let you know you can’t be precisely who you need to be.”
LL Cool J Performs a Nostalgic Medley of Hip-Hop Hits
2024 not solely marked the fortieth anniversary of the VMAs, it additionally marked 4 many years since Def Jam Recordings first started. As an early member of the label, it was solely becoming that LL Cool J carry out to commemorate the milestone anniversary. Joined by Taste Flav and Chuck D of Public Enemy, the rapper and actor carried out a medley of hits like “Mama Mentioned Knock You Out” and “Carry the Noise.”
Taylor Swift Shouts Out Boyfriend Travis Kelce in Her Acceptance Speech
Followers have been over the moon (particular person) when Taylor Swift gave boyfriend Travis Kelce a shout-out in her acceptance speech for Video of the Year, which she gained for “Fortnight.”
“The factor is that this video — it appears very unhappy if you watch it, however it really was like essentially the most enjoyable video to make,” she mentioned. “One thing that I am going to at all times bear in mind is that after I would end a take and I might say ‘reduce’ and we would be accomplished with that take, I might at all times simply hear like somebody cheering from throughout the studio the place we have been taking pictures it, and that one particular person was my boyfriend, Travis.”
“Every little thing this man touches turns to happiness and enjoyable and magic,” she added of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish. “So, I need to thank him for including that to our shoot, as a result of I’ll at all times do not forget that.”