VMAs 2024 LIVE updates: Taylor Swift makes VMAs history, wins seven awards

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VMAs 2024 LIVE updates: Taylor Swift makes VMAs history, wins seven awards

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Taylor Swift wins video of the year, asks people to vote in election

By Meg Watson

She’s done it! Was it ever in doubt? Winner of every award in existence Taylor Swift has won the final moon man of the night, video of the year. The win is for Fortnight, her collaboration with Post Malone – which, personally I think looks like a Tumblr post from 2011, but hey I’m glad other people are having fun!

In her speech, Swift thanked the team behind the clip as well as her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

“When I’d finish a take, I would always just hear someone cheering and woo-ing from across the studio,” she said. “That one person was my boyfriend, Travis. Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic so I want to thank him for adding that to our shoot.”

After thanking her fans for “making [her] life what it is”, she then encouraged “anyone over 18″ to “register to vote for something else: the presidential election”.

The call to vote comes one day after Swift’s endorsement for Kamala Harris, but the singer didn’t mention either candidate.

Either way, it’ll be interesting to see what impact it has! Megan Thee Stallion confirmed that this awards ceremony had the biggest global audience of any VMAs to date.

LL Cool J is hard as hell

By Robert Moran

Something for the old heads, as Busta Rhymes comes up to introduce LL Cool J for a celebration of Def Jam’s 40th anniversary.

Beyond a quick cameo from Public Enemy, it’s more a celebration of LL – he opens with his Timbaland-era fave Headsprung, before diving back into Rock the Bells, Around the Way Girl and Going Back to Cali. There’s a slight detour into his new album The Force, entirely produced by Q-Tip, before he closes with his classic sex jam Doin’ It.

Always annoying when MTV doesn’t cut to Taylor Swift dancing when you want it most, but I’m certain she was grinding to Doin’ It.

Best Latin goes to Brazilian star Anitta

By Robert Moran

MTV has spent years trying to make Anitta a thing and they’re not stopping. She wins for best Latin over stars including Shakira and Bad Bunny.

Anitta performs during the MTV Video Music Awards.

Anitta performs during the MTV Video Music Awards.Credit: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

“What an amazing year for the Latin culture,” she said, calling out her fellow nominee Karol G. “Being here every year being the only representative of my country is really special to me.”

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Good job, babe! Chappell Roan wins best new artist

By Meg Watson

All is right in the realm. Chappell Roan has won the popularly voted award for best new artist, slaying (because medieval) the runners up: Gracie Abrams and Tyla.

Roan has had a meteoric rise over the past few months as the world caught up with the greatness of her 2023 album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess and became obsessed with new single Good Luck, Babe.

Roan accepted the award in a sequined, chain mail gown and read her speech from a paper diary.

Chappell Roan performing Good Luck, Babe during the ceremony.

Chappell Roan performing Good Luck, Babe during the ceremony.Credit: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

“I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspired me,” she said. “And I dedicate this to queer and trans people that fuel pop. To the gays who dedicate my songs to someone they love or hate. And thank you to the people who are fans, who listen to me when I share my joys and my fears.”

The singer recently called out “predatory behaviour” she and her family have been receiving including stalking and online harassment, provoking some debate about how fans should treat pop stars.

“For all the queer kids in the midwest watching right now, I see you. I understand you. Because I’m one of you. And don’t let anyone tell you you can’t be exactly who you want to be, bitches.”

It’s quite a rise for an artist who, just four years ago, was dropped by her label and had to move back to Missouri to work the drive-through. Good job, babe!

Camilla Cabello is taking her rage-rap pivot seriously

By Robert Moran

A lot of people clowned Camilla Cabello’s grunge-y, drug-fuelled transformation on her latest album, C, XOXO. I was not one of them – deeply personal and very Miami, the album’s a sleeper, and includes a woozy sample from Pitbull’s Hotel Room Service, which is just beautiful.

But I don’t know about this performance. Instead of something fun, like, I Luv It or Chanel No. 5, she’s gone for the strained ballad Godspeed.

Camila Cabello performs during the MTV VMAs.

Camila Cabello performs during the MTV VMAs. Credit: AP

It’s probably about her ex Shawn Mendes who is right there in the crowd, but MTV completely fails to cut to him in the audience.

Performing in perspex box, she ends it by smashing a laptop on the ground, which I guess is the 2024 equivalent of Nirvana trashing their set.

Taylor Swift wins 4 VMAs in 60 seconds? We think

By Thomas Mitchell

The VMAs are famously really fun and weird; remember when Sabrina Carpenter made out with an alien like an hour ago?

Anyway, while we encourage chaos, it would also be nice if the award-giving occasionally made sense. Tonight has been pretty all over the shop, with hours passing between awards and then a bunch being handed out with little notice.

Which brings us to Taylor Swift, who, just won a bunch more VMAs, including best pop, best direction, best editing and artist of the year.

Four awards in the space of a minute. If anyone can do it, it’s Taylor Swift.

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Best K-Pop goes to Lisa

By Meg Watson

Lisa, of iconic girl group Blackpink, has taken out the award for best k-pop, beating Jung Kook (of BTS) among others.

Rockstar was a meaningful comeback for me after Lalisa, so this is very, very special to me,” she said.

Lisa won this same award back in 2022 for Lalisa, becoming the first solo K-pop artist to win a video music award so she’s building a real legacy!

Get it, Lenny

By Robert Moran

Zoe Kravitz’s dad – jokes, I know his name – is out here at 60 rocking better than most children, in leather pants and a feather boa.

Lenny Kravitz poses with the award for best rock video for Human,

Lenny Kravitz poses with the award for best rock video for Human,Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

He gets a medley, opening with his classic Are You Gonna Go My Way and a new version of Flyaway with Migos rapper Quavo.

Really looking forward to 60 now.

No Rush for Troye

By Robert Moran

We had one major chance as Australians to win a prize today (not including those dudes in Stray Kids from Burwood or wherever who were up for best K-pop), but alas ’twas not to be.

Troye Sivan missed out on best choreography to Dua Lipa’s Houdini. What a turnaround - I guess those “Go girl, give us nothing” memes are dead for good now?

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Halsey rocks

By Robert Moran

Halsey brings some much needed Y2K-emo energy to the stage, rocking out in a tie and long shorts, in a makeshift suburban garage for a performance of her song Ego.

There haven’t been too many chances at these VMAs for music lovers to headbang and throw up their horns – considering Lenny Kravitz won the award for best rock, and Benson Boone won for best alternative, which kind of tells you the state of guitar music these days – we appreciate Halsey for taking up the rock mantle.

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