The MTV Video Music Awards are back — and thanks to a great lineup of performers, star-studded nominees and a trio of high-profile hosts, it’s sure to be a night to remember.
This year’s show returns to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, with Nicki Minaj, LL Cool J and Jack Harlow emceeing as a trio. Minaj will also receive the Video Vanguard Award and perform.
In addition to Nicki, BLACKPINK, Lizzo, Panic! At the Disco, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anitta, J. Balvin, Jack Harlow, Maneskin and Marshmello x Khalid will all perform from the stadium — while Kane Brown and Bad Bunny will hit the stage remotely. The Chili Peppers will also receive the Global Icon Award.
Headed into the night, Harlow, Doja Cat and Harry Styles led the pack for nominations, taking in eight each. Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, Drake, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd were all close behind.
For all the winners, click here.
The VMAs are no stranger to viral, unscripted and totally insane moments and hopefully this year is no exception. Stay tuned right here for the moments that erupted on Twitter — we’ll keep updating this post all night!
A Fergalicious Start
The night got off to a a very Fergalicious start as Jack Harlow kicked things off with a performance of his hit “First Class,” which samples Fergie’s 2006 hit “Glamorous.”
She then joined him on stage rocking a sparkly “First Class” mini as she started to sing her hit from “The Dutchess.” This marked her first appearance at the American VMAs since the song was released.
introduced Fergie to the stage to sing her 2006 hit — marking her first appearance at the VMAs since the year the song was released.
No, it wasn’t a long performance, but nice to see her back at the VMAs nonetheless!
Johnny Depp Appears as the Moon Person
TMZ revealed ahead of the show that Johnny Depp would appear during the telecast as the Moon Person and it didn’t take long for it to happen. After opening numbers from Jack Harlow and Fergie, as well as Lizzo, the show cut to a commercial — where Depp made his first appearance.
His face appeared via a pre-recorded video in the mask of the Moon Person as they hovered over the stage — joking, “I needed the work.” He continued to pop up randomly throughout the show, before and after commercial breaks.
His appearance was a controversial ones, as it comes following his divorce and subsequent legal battle against Amber Heard. Reaction was definitely split, with his devoted fans cheering him on as his critics wondered why he was even invited to participate.
BLACKPINK In Your Area
BLACKPINK made their big VMA debut — making their first appearance at a US awards show ever and the first time a female K-pop group has performed at the annual award show.
It was also one of the first times the group performed their new single, “Pink Venom,” which dropped earlier this month.
Judging by the screams in the audience and fans reacting at home, it was a success.
Jimmy Fallon, Hot or Not?
Jimmy Fallon started trending as the cameras kept cutting to him in the audience during the show — and, by the time he hit the stage to present Album of the Year to Harry Styles, the timeline started to debate whether the “Tonight Show” host was hot.
Sparking the debate: his beard and Hawaiian shirt.
Nicki Minaj Takes Over the VMAs
It took a full hour for cohost Nicki Minaj to make her first appearance at the VMAs, after skipping the red carpet as well. But when she arrived, she arrived.
Ahead of her Vanguard Award win, she was flanked by dancers in front of a giant Barbie house as she performed a medley of her hits — including “Roman’s Revenge,” “Monster,” “Beez in the Trap,” “Chun‐Li,” “Moment 4 Life,” “Super Bass” and “Anaconda,” before ending it with her latest single “Super Freaky Girl.”
The routine ended with stripper pole tricks and male dancers in leather harnesses grinding up on the superstar, before the auditorium erupted in cheers and a standing ovation.
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