Taylor Swift wins big at MTV Video Music Awards
The greatest prize at the MTV Video Music Awards went to Taylor Swift for her song “Fortnight,” starring Post Malone, which took home the video of the year trophy.
In her statement, she mentioned her “boyfriend, Travis,” expressing gratitude for his presence on the music video set.
She praised NFL player Travis Kelce, saying, “Everything this man touches turns to happiness, fun, and magic,” before turning her attention to the 2024 presidential election and advising her followers who are at least 18 to register to vote.
On stage, Swift did not address Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, though. Shortly after Harris’s Tuesday night debate with former President Donald Trump concluded, Swift gave her support to the vice president.
With her latest win, Swift’s career total of 30 trophies ties her with Beyonce for the most accolades of any musician in VMA history. At fourteen, Eminem is now the male artist with the most VMAs.
Swift and Post Malone also won the first-ever televised VMA for best collaboration for “Fortnight,” which was presented to them by Jordan Chiles, an Olympian, and Flavour Flav.
Swift began the statement by remembering everyone who died on 9/11, 23 years ago, and their loved ones.
“I’ve just been thinking about what happened 23 years ago, everyone who lost a loved one and everyone that we lost and that is the most important thing about today,” she added. “And everything that takes place tonight is surpassed by behind him….
There is a reason Post Malone is everyone in music’s favorite person to collaborate with,” she shifted her attention to him. “It has taken forever for me to get him to stop calling me ma’am.”
Chappell Roan won the MTV Video Music Award for best new artist.
“I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspire me,” she said in her speech, while wearing chain mail, reading from a written speech in her diary. “And I dedicate this to queer and trans people who run pop. … Thank you for listening.”
Women dominated the award show, no example greater than an imaginative, medieval set from Roan.
Drag queen Sasha Colby introduced her with “your favorite drag queen’s favorite artist,” a reference to Roan’s now famous Coachella performance, which in turn was inspired by Colby. Real fans no doubt got a kick out of the hyper-referential tidbit.
Roan appeared in armor, shooting a lit crossbow at castle gates that stood behind her, burning them in the process. Her dancers were knights, battling each other in incredible choreography as she sang her queer pop hit, “Good Luck, Babe.”
The other voice of 2024 pop, Sabrina Carpenter, won the trophy for song of the year for “Espresso.”
“This is really special,” she said in her speech, dedicated to her fans. “And thank you to that me-espresso.”
Earlier in the night, she brought her summery-pop to the award show, powering through her hit singles “Please Please Please,” “Taste” and “Espresso” while dancing with a moon man and an alien.