Revisit the bits everyone is talking about today
The annual MTV VMA awards took place last night in Madison Square Garden, New York. From Beyoncé’s huge awards haul to Kanye’s inspo speech, here’s everything you need to know about last night’s events if you didn’t manage to stay up all night watching it.
Rihanna opened the show with a pink-themed entourage
Kicking off the proceedings with a bang, Rihanna performed some of her best hits including We Found Love and Where Have You Been, with her and her backing dancers all dressed in pink.
Beyoncé absolutely slayed
The 16-minute, Lemonade-inspired set opened with Pray You Catch Me, with Queen B working her way through Hold Up, Sorry, Don’t Hurt Yourself, and ending with power anthem, Formation.
Naturally, there was an outfit change – Beyoncé started her set dressed all in white, but later in her performance changed into a long sleeved, black leotard.
Bey had the highest number of nominations - racking up 11 and winning video of the year, best female video, best pop video and breakthrough long form video.
Formation also won four out of six awards in the professional category – best choreography, direction, cinematography and editing, respectively. Basically, Queen B owned it.
‘If y’all came to slay, sing along with me’ she said. And oh, they did.
...And her daughter, Blue Ivy, was her date on the red carpet
Just TOO cute.
Britney made a return to the VMAs stage after a 10-year hiatus
Britney is BACK. After ten years away from performing at the VMAs, she gave us a performance of her song, Make Me, which was complete with dancing, obvs. She was also joined on stage by rapper, G-Eazy.
Ah, Britney, we missed you. Long live the queen of 90s pop.
Drake teased us about the relationship we ALL want to happen
When presenting Rihanna with the Vanguard award, Drake introduced RiRi as the woman ‘I’ve loved since I was 22 years old.’
Be still our beating hearts.
Kanye gave a speech - obvs
He wouldn’t be Kanye if he turned down an opportunity to inspire the world. Before introducing the video for Famous, he did exactly that.
‘I am Kanye West. And that feels really great to say, especially this year’ he began.
‘I came here to present my new video but before I do that. I’m a talk. Now, later tonight Famous might lose to Beyoncé, but I can’t be mad. I’m always wishing for Beyoncé to win, so… But for people to understand just how blessed we are, it was an expression of our now; our fame right now. Us on the inside of the TV… We came over in the same boat; now we all in the same bed. Well, maybe, different boats, but you know.
‘We are undeniably the influence; the thought leaders. I’m gonna play y’all a piece of my art. And I just hope you all have a good time. Play that.’
So, who won what?
Video of the year – Beyoncé, Formation
Best female video – Beyoncé, Hold Up
Best male video – Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna ¬– This is What You Came For
Best collaboration – Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign, Work From Home
Best hip hop video – Drake, Hotline Bling
Best pop video – Beyoncé, Formation
Best rock video – twenty one pilots, Heathens
Best electronic video – Calvin Harris & Disciples, How Deep is Your Love
Breakthrough long form video – Lemonade
Best new artist – DNCE
Song of Summer – Fifth Harmony ft. Fetty Wap, All in My Head (Flex)
Best art direction – David Bowie, Blackstar
Best choreography – Beyoncé, Formation
Best direction – Beyoncé, Formation
Best cinematography – Beyoncé, Formation
Best editing – Beyoncé, Formation
Best visual effects – Coldplay, Up&Up