The Year’s 1st Post-COVID Aired Event
This weekend, the MTV Music Videos Awards were broadcast in the first audience-less aired event of its kind since the start and spread of the coronavirus. Numerous people in the event participated through video acceptances and relied majorly on video effects.
The event was hosted by Keke Palmer who is known best for her role in “Hustler” last year, opening the VMAs 2020 with a tribute to Chadwich Boseman, who lost his battle with colon cancer just 2 days ago. She hosted the event from an outdoor setting close to the Empire State Building, joking about it saying, “They’ve got me on top of every building.” She openly spoke about the Black Lives Matter movement and protests following the numerous heartbreaking attacks on people from the black community, including the attack on Jacob Blake, calling out to everyone and urging them to “continue the fight to end systemic racism.”
The Video of the Year award was won by The Weeknd for “Blinding Lights”, who wore blood-like makeup in accordance with the video of the song.
Lady Gaga won the Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Collaboration (with Ariana Grande) for “Rain on Me”, and the first Tricon Award which is awarded to artists that receive awards in multiple fields. Originally, this was the Video Vanguard Award but that has been replaced with the Tricon Award, making Gaga its first recipient.
In her acceptance speech, Lady Gaga spoke out to everyone saying, “Just because we’re separated right now, and culture may feel less alive in some ways, I know a Renaissance is coming… Stay safe, speak your mind, and I might sound like a broken record, but wear a mask — it’s a sign of respect.”
Awards:
- Push New Best Artist: Doja Cat
- Best Pop: “On” by BTS
- Best Hip Hop: “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion
- Best R&B: “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd
- Best K-Pop: “On” by BTS
- Best Latin: “Que Pena” by Maluma ft. J Balvin
- Best Rock: “Orphans” by Coldplay
- Best Alternative: “Bloody Valentine” by Machine Gun Kelly
- Best MV from Home: “Stuck with U” by Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber
- Best Quarantine Performance: “MTV Unplugged At Home” by CNCO
- Video for Good: “I Can’t Breathe” by H.E.R.
- Best Group: BTS
- Song of Summer: “How You Like That” by BLACKPINK
For the full list of awards, winners, and nominees, visit 2020 VMA Winners.
Credit: Rich Fury, Vijat Mohindra, Kevin Winter, Kevin Mazur, Jeff Kravitz/MTV VMAs 2020