MTV VMAs: 13 things to know, from Kendrick Lamar’s many wins to Taylor Swift’s video

Everyone knows the MTV Video Music Awards are more focused on performances instead of the actual awards, but either way, Kendrick Lamar had a very good night. In addition to kicking off the show with a medley, the rapper walked away with six awards out of a field-leading eight nominations — including the top prize, video of the year for his hit “HUMBLE.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VDv6h-3StI

A complete list of nominees and winners is below — here’s everything else to know from the show, hosted by Katy Perry.

* 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.

* 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.”

* 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.”

Susan Bro and the Rev. Robert Wright Lee IV speak onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards. (Getty Images)

* Paris Jackson’s message about Charlottesville

Celebrities mostly stayed away from current events. Yet 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.”

Paris Jackson (Getty Images)

* Lorde’s interpretive dance

Stricken with the flu, Lorde didn’t want to bail on the VMAs — and when she performed “Homemade Dynamite,” she didn’t sing, but instead did an elaborate dance routine that involved lots of jumping and falling to the ground. Unclear whether she would have done the same thing if she wasn’t sick.

* Paris Jackson’s message about Charlottesville

Celebrities mostly stayed away from current events. Yet 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.”

Paris Jackson (Getty Images)

* Lorde’s interpretive dance

Stricken with the flu, Lorde didn’t want to bail on the VMAs — and when she performed “Homemade Dynamite,” she didn’t sing, but instead did an elaborate dance routine that involved lots of jumping and falling to the ground. Unclear whether she would have done the same thing if she wasn’t sick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4hUmKZvBBE

* 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. “We are praying for your safety and the days to come, and we stand with you as you rebuild because we’re all in this together.”

Katy Perry (Getty Images)

* The ghost of Camilla 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.

Shade? Fifth Harmony Had a Fake Camila Cabello Thrown Off the Stage at the MTV #VMAs https://t.co/QbEKGAboZq pic.twitter.com/MIGSAcmuGy

— People (@people) 28 Αυγούστου 2017

* 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, who said on the red carpet that he wrote his first song less than two years ago, picked up the prize and excitedly thanked his mom.

Meanwhile, Michaels got a performance slot, though her time on the broadcast was cut off as MTV promoted Swift’s new video and other upcoming celebrity cameos — and Michaels’s fans weren’t happy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPIB_vU0aYI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRW4eP877u0

* 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.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_iTJxR_Wb8

* 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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLe1dddgZrg

* 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.

I’m calling it: @djkhaled‘s son will be ALL OVER the best dressed lists pic.twitter.com/amVVQH5Y9e

— Allure (@Allure_magazine) 27 Αυγούστου 2017

* 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.

Jack Antonoff bored and eating a banana during Katy Perry’s intro is all of us watching this intro. #VMAs pic.twitter.com/QXgE3H3VIM

— Hunter Ingram (@hunter_wesley) 28 Αυγούστου 2017

Complete list of winners

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (winner)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful”
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
The Weeknd – “Reminder”

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bruno Mars
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran (winner)
Ariana Grande
The Weeknd
Lorde

BEST NEW ARTIST
Khalid (winner)
Kodak Black
SZA
Young M.A
Julia Michaels
Noah Cyrus

BEST POP VIDEO
Shawn Mendes – “Treat You Better”
Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”
Harry Styles – “Sign Of The Times”
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – “Down” (winner)
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm”
Miley Cyrus – “Malibu”

BEST DANCE
Zedd and Alessia Cara – “Stay” (winner)
Kygo x Selena Gomez – “It Ain’t Me”
Calvin Harris – “My Way”
Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and Mø – “Cold Water”
Afrojack ft. Ty Dolla $ign – “Gone”

BEST COLLABORATION
Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez – “We Don’t Talk Anymore”
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli”
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer”
Calvin Harris ft. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean – “Feels”
Zayn & Taylor Swift – “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” (winner)

BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (winner)
Big Sean – “Bounce Back”
Chance the Rapper – “Same Drugs”
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli”
Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert – “Bad & Boujee”
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne – “I’m The One”

BEST FIGHT AGAINST THE SYSTEM (all honored)
Logic ft. Damian Lemar Hudson – “Black SpiderMan”
The Hamilton Mixtape – “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)”
Big Sean – “Light”
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful”
Taboo ft. Shailene Woodley – “Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL”
John Legend – “Surefire”

(not televised awards)

SONG OF THE SUMMER

“Despacito (Remix)” – Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber
“Down” – Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane
“OMG” – Camila Cabello ft. Quavo
“Shape of You”– Ed Sheeran
“Sorry Not Sorry” – Demi Lovato
“There’s Nothing Holding Me Back” – Shawn Mendes
“Wild Thoughts” – DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller
“XO Tour Llif3” – Lil Uzi Vert (winner)

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Kanye West – “Fade” (winner)
Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj – “Side To Side”
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.”
Sia – “The Greatest”
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – “Down”

BEST ROCK VIDEO
Coldplay – “A Head Full of Dreams”
Fall Out Boy – “Young And Menace”
Twenty One Pilots – “Heavydirtysoul” (winner)
Green Day – “Bang Bang”
Foo Fighters – “Run”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (winner)
Imagine Dragons – “Thunder”
Ed Sheeran – “Castle On The Hill”
DJ Shadow ft. Run The Jewels – “Nobody Speak”
Halsey – “Now or Never

BEST DIRECTION
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (winner)
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm”
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful”
The Weeknd – “Reminder”

BEST ART DIRECTION
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (winner)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
Katy Perry ft. Migos – “Bon Appetit”
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
The Weeknd – “Reminder”

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (winner)
A Tribe Called Quest – “Dis Generation”
KYLE ft. Lil Yachty – “iSpy”
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm”
Harry Styles – “Sign Of The Times”

BEST EDITING
Future – “Mask Off”
Young Thug – “Wyclef Jean” (winner)
Lorde – “Green Light”
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer”
The Weeknd – “Reminder”

Source: washingtonpost.com