Olivia Rodrigo wins big at MTV VMAs
New York, US, Sep 13 (EFE).- Newcomer Olivia Rodrigo won big at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday while Lil Nas X picked up the coveted Video of the Year award and Megan Thee Stallion was left empty-handed despite being one of the favorites.
Rodrigo, who rose to fame on social media, won three awards for Song of the Year and Push Performance of the Year for Drivers License as well as Best New Artist while Justin Bieber, who had seven nods, won Artist of the Year and Best Pop for Peaches featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon.
The in-person event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn was packed with hundreds of fans, screaming as their favorite artists walked the red carpet and took the stage, something that was missed at last year’s virtual ceremony.
Madonna, 63, opened the show by paying tribute to the 40 years of MTV and her own musical career, which have intersected on many occasions.
“We formed a bond that changed my life and created a whole new art form. That’s why there’s only one place to be tonight,” said the 63-year-old singer, dressed in a dominatrix outfit.
The night continued with spectacular performances by artists including Bieber, who performed at the awards for the first time in six years wearing a pair of black overalls and a black hooded sweatshirt.
Rodrigo, who performed her pop-punk hit Good 4 You and ended her set by breaking a camera lens, said “this has been the most magical year of my life” and dedicated her first VMA award to “all of the girls who write songs on their bedroom floor.”
Lil Nas X caused a sensation on the red carpet with his lilac sequin-covered part-suit, part-gown and later again on stage while performing Industry Baby with Jack Harlow and his award-winning Montero (Call me by your name), when he stripped down to sparkly pink boxer briefs.
Lil Nas X, who is openly gay, won Video of the Year along with Best Direction and Best Visual Effects
“Thank you, gay agenda,” said the rapper after picking up the video of the year award at the end of the night.
Billie Eilish also picked up two awards: Video For Good for Your Power, which deals with abuse, and Best Latin for Lo Vas A Olvidar with Rosalía.
“We need to protect our young women at all cost,” Eilish said in her acceptance speech.
Rock band Foo Fighters were the inaugural winner of the Global Icon award.
“We’ve been a band for 26 years, so it feels pretty good. But we’d like to thank all of the people at MTV, past and present,” frontman Dave Grohl said during the band’s acceptance speech.
The host of the VMAs, Doja Cat, who won the Best Collaboration award for Kiss Me More with SZA, performed some of her hits suspended in mid-air, with her figure framed by the lights and smoke.
One of the biggest disappointments of the night was rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who had seven nominations but was left empty-handed despite the controversy caused by her provocative song WAP, with Cardi B. EFE
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