Taylor Swift and Post Malone win biggest award of the night and ...
It was déjà vu when Eminem opened the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) with a bunch of look-alikes in blonde wigs, Eminem wearing one too before switching to a baseball cap.
It was a call back to his performance at the 2000 VMAs when he walked in with scores of "Slim Shady" characters dressed like him.
It wasn't the only throwback with host Megan Thee Stallion dressing up like Britney Spears during her 2001 VMA performance of Slave 4 U during which she carried a live snake.
It didn't take long for Megan Thee Stallion to discard her reptile friend.
Taylor Swift and Post Malone win first award during ceremonyThere were plenty of awards handed out off camera, but when the ceremony began it was Taylor Swift and Post Malone who accepted the first award.
They won Best Collaboration for Fortnight.
"I wanted to say, you know, waking up this morning in New York on September 11, I've just been thinking about what happened 23 years ago," Swift said.
"Everyone who lost a loved one, and everyone that we lost, and that is the most important thing about today and everything that happens tonight."
Post Malone and Taylor Swift accepted the Best Collaboration award for Fortnight. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV)
She went on to sing Post Malone's praises.
"There is a very clear reason why Post Malone is everyone in music's favourite person to collaborate [with], and it is because you are so ridiculously talented, you are so versatile, and you're the most down to earth person, honestly, so unfailingly polite," she said.
"It has taken me forever to get him to stop calling me ma'am."
Of course, Post Malone couldn't resist a quip.
"Yes Ma'am," he said when asked by Swift if he wanted to say a few words.
The duo also won the biggest award of the night, Video of the Year, again for Fortnight, with Swift giving a shout out to her boyfriend Travis Kelce. Swift also urged Americans to register to vote.
Sabrina Carpenter kisses an alienGirls want to have more than just fun, apparently.
Cyndi Lauper, who won her first MTV VMA at the inaugural awards show 40 years ago, introduced Sabrina Carpenter, saying female artists were dominating the scene.
Sabrina Carpenter was joined by an alien when she performed at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images)
Carpenter went on to lock lips with an alien during her performance, before winning her first ever MTV VMA for Song of the Year for Espresso.
She thanked her cats and dogs, who she said were watching at home.
Katy Perry's Video Vanguard awardThe Video Vanguard award is essentially a lifetime achievement award, and this year it went to Katy Perry.
Katy Perry performed before being presented with the MTV Video Vanguard award. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images)
The award was handed to her by her partner Orlando Bloom.
"Thank you so much to MTV for believing in my weirdness from day one and for helping artists extend their world beyond a song," Perry said.
"There are no decade long accidents."
Perry also thanked "the LGBTQ community who I recognise I would not be here without, and who showed me that you can be both kind and cut".
Chappell Roan read from her diary when she took to the stage to accept the award for Best New Artist.
Chappell Roan won the Best New Artist award. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
"I dedicate this to all the drag artists that inspire me and I dedicate this to the queer and trans people that fuel pop," Roan said.
"Thank you to the fans who listen to me when I share my joys and fears.
"To all the queer kids in the Midwest watching this right now, I see you, I understand you and don't let anyone tell you you can't be exactly what you want to be, bitch!"
LL Cool J rocks the crowdIt would have been impossible to sit during LL Cool J's performance.
The veteran rapper rocked the crowd with a medley of hits while celebrating 40 years of the groundbreaking label Def Jam Records.
LL Cool J brought the house down during his performance. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for MTV)
