12 things to know from the MTV VMAs
Pink’s message to her daughter about body image and Taylor Swift fires back at critics
Adapted from a story by The Washington Post’s Emily Yahr.
Everyone knows the MTV Video Music Awards are more focused on performances instead of the actual awards. It was rapper Kendrick Lamar’s night — he kicked off the night with a medley and walked away with six awards out of a field-leading eight nominations — including the top prize, video of the year for his hit “HUMBLE.”
Here’s what else to know from the show, hosted by Katy Perry.
1. Taylor Swift finally got to fire back at her critics
The pop star earned a lot of backlash recently, and apparently while she’s been out of the spotlight, she’s been taking careful notes — the music video for her new single, “Look What You Made Me Do,” debuted Sunday night, and addressed nearly every insult hurled her way over the past year. (You can find a detailed breakdown here. The video is quite something.)
2. Jared Leto honored Chester Bennington
Bennington, the 41-year-old Linkin Park frontman, died last month; his death was ruled a suicide. Leto, actor and lead singer of 30 Seconds to Mars, paid tribute to his friend.
“When I think about Chester, I see his face, which was always smiling. I think about his heart, which he wore on his sleeve … at once ferocious and delicate, that voice will live forever,” Leto said. “If there is anyone out there who is watching this tonight, who feels like there is no hope, hear me now. You are not alone. There is always a way forward. Reach out, share your thoughts, do not give up, and, I promise you this: the absolute biggest breakthroughs in life lie just beyond the darkest days.”
3. Heather Heyer’s mother, Susan Bro, made an appearance
Bro, the mother of the 32-year-old woman killed in Charlottesville when a car slammed into people protesting a white supremacy rally, announced a foundation in her daughter’s name. She was introduced by the Rev. Robert Lee IV (a descendant of Civil War general Robert E. Lee), who said, “We have made my ancestor an idol of white supremacy, racism and hate. As a pastor, it is my moral duty to speak out against racism.”
4. Paris Jackson’s message about Charlottesville
Presenter Paris Jackson, the 19-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson, didn’t hold back, urging the audience to speak out against hate.
“Let’s leave here tonight remembering that we must show these Nazi white supremacist jerks in Charlottesville and all over the country that as a nation with liberty as our slogan, we have zero tolerance for their violence, their hatred, and their discrimination,” she said. “We must resist.”
5. Lorde’s interpretive dance
When Lorde performed “Homemade Dynamite,” she didn’t sing but instead did an elaborate dance routine that involved lots of jumping and falling to the ground.
6. A message to Texas
About 38 minutes into the show, Perry mentioned the horrific hurricane in Texas. “All of us here at the VMAs are sending love to the people of southeastern Texas and everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey right now,” she said, directing everyone to donate to the Red Cross.
7. The ghost of Camila Cabello
Maybe not her actual ghost, though her former band members in Fifth Harmony (from whom she had a notably chilly departure) weren’t too subtle when a mysterious fifth person plummeted off the stage at the beginning of their performance of “Angel” and “Down” with Gucci Mane.
8. Khalid won new artist of the year
The VMAs repeatedly touted a tight race between 19-year-old Khalid and 23-year-old Julia Michaels for new artist of the year. Khalid picked up the prize and excitedly thanked his mom.
9. Pink’s acceptance speech
Pink performed a medley of hits (“So What,” “Just Give Me a Reason,” “Raise Your Glass,” etc.), followed by a touching speech. Recently, she said, her 6-year-old daughter announced, “Mama, I’m the ugliest girl I know. I look like a boy with long hair.” Shocked, Pink tried to explain to her daughter about beauty standards, saying that people often criticize her for looking masculine and “too strong.”
“I said, ‘Do you see me changing my body? … Do you see me changing the way I present myself to the world? … Do you see me selling out arenas all over the world?’ ” Pink recalled.
“So, baby girl, we don’t change, we take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl. We help other people to change so that they can see more kinds of beauty.”
10. Suicide-attempt survivors and loss survivors stood on stage for “1–800–273–8255,” Logic’s song named after the suicide prevention hotline
“Whatever you are going through, however dark it may seem, there is an undeniable truth and strength in the fact that you are not alone,” Kesha said, introducing the song by Logic, featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid.
11. DJ Khaled brought his adorable baby son, who rocked a tiny — and very expensive — designer suit
As the New York Post points out, 10-month-old Asahd’s outfit probably costs more than your rent.
12. Jack Antonoff ate a banana and looked unimpressed during Katy Perry’s monologue
Antonoff, the lead singer of Bleachers, might have been the only person who found a banana somewhere at the VMAs. However, he was definitely not the only one skeptical of Perry’s deeply unfunny opening skit.
