MTV VMAs 2022: Winners announced at raucous ceremony of shock cameos and surprise announcements
It’s been an eventful night over in New Jersey
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Your support makes all the difference.The MTV VMAs took place Sunday 28 August at a live ceremony at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
This year’s event was hosted by LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow, with performances from Eminem and Snoop Dogg, Lizzo, K-pop group Blackpink, and Italian rock band Maneskin.
Taylor Swift announced her brand new album, Midnights, at the ceremony after making a surprise appearance.
Johnny Depp also made a (more controversial) appearance, with his head superimposed onto one of the Moon Person trophies.
As well as winning Video of the Year, Swift was spotted enthusiastically rapping along with Nicki Minaj’s ‘Super Bass’ from her seat in the crowd.
And though Harry Styles was nominated for a host of awards, he failed to attend the ceremony due to performing at one of his own concerts in New York.
Bad Bunny won the coveted Artist of the Year prize, shortly after driving fans wild when he kissed one of his male backing dancers during his performance.
See the full list of winners here.
Follow the liveblog below
Meet the 2022 MTV VMAs nominees
It’s an eclectic bunch of nominees for this year’s MTV VMAs, which are taking place tonight live at New Jersey’s Prudential Center from 8pm ET (1am UK time).
Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, and Foo Fighters have received nominations, along with UK acts such as Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles.
You can find the full list of MTV’s VMA 2022 nominees below.
MTV VMAs 2022 announce Foo Fighters, Kendrick Lamar, and Billie Eilish among nominees
This year’s ceremony will be held on Sunday, 28 August at 8pm ET
The winners are already rolling in
The official ceremony hasn’t started yet, but winners are already being announced on the red carpet, with Italian glam rock band Måneskin taking the prize for Best Alternative for “I Wanna Be Your Slave” and Blackpink taking the gong for Best Metaverse Performance.
MTV VMAs 2022 winners: The full list
All the winners from this year’s ceremony in New Jersey, as it happens
Johnny Depp helps open the show
Johnny Depp’s rumoured appearance as the MTV “Moonman” trophy actually happened, with a super brief appearance from the actor after Lizzo and Jack Harlow’s ceremony-opening performances.
Here’s Johnny
Read more on Johnny’s appearance from Peony Hirwani.
“I just want you guys to know I’m available for birthdays, bat mitzvahs, weddings, wakes – any old thing you need,” said Depp via video.
Johnny Depp makes an appearance at the 2022 VMAs
‘I just want you guys to know I’m available for birthdays, bat mitzvahs, weddings, wakes – any old thing you need,’ commented Depp
Lil Nas X stuns in incredible feather headpiece at 2022 MTV VMAs
Lil Nas X turned heads at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.
The “Industry Baby” rapper, who is nominated for seven awards at this year’s ceremony, walked the red carpet in a feather ensemble designed by Harris Reed.
The all-black look featured a structured skirt and massive feather headpiece. A shirtless Lil Nas X also showed off his toned figure, and opted for black leather pants underneath the feathered skirt.
Lil Nas X stuns in incredible feather headpiece at 2022 MTV VMAs
The rapper walked the 2022 MTV VMAs red carpet in an all-black feather ensemble
Fans instantly took to social media to praise the rapper for his MTV VMAs fashion.
“ICONIC,” tweeted one user, while another fan said: “lil nas is so gorgeous i gasped.”
Taylor Swift makes unannounced appearance in nude-look outfit
Taylor Swift returned to the VMAs after a three-year hiatus
She’s nominated in all 5 categories and has already won Best Longform Video, for her work on All Too Well: The Short Film.
Read more from Tom Murray here.
Taylor Swift makes surprise appearance at MTV VMAs in nude-look jewelled outfit
Swift has not attended the VMAs in three years
Who’s won what?
We’re deep into the ceremony and already a host of big awards have been dished out.
Album of the Year has gone to Harry Styles for Harry’s House, while Red Hot Chili Peppers received the Global Icon Award and Nicki Minaj the Video Vanguard Award.
Taylor Swift has scored the Best Longform Video prize for All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version).
There’s still plenty more to go, so don’t go anywhere just yet...
When did the ‘Moon Person’ trophy receive its gender neutral name?
Fans of the MTV Video Music Awards may notice during the award show ceremony that the iconic statue has been referred to as “Moon Person,” rather than its original “Moonman”.
That’s because network president Chris McCarthy announced in 2017 that the trophy – which depicts an astronaut planting a flag with the MTV logo on the moon’s surface – will from now on be known by its gender neutral name.
“Why should it be a man?” McCarthy said at the time. “It could be a man, it could be a woman, it could be transgender, it could be nonconformist.”
MTV VMAs 2022: When did the ‘Moon Person’ trophy receive its gender neutral name?
The ‘Moon Person’ trophy is awarded to winners at the MTV Video Music Awards
The MTV Moon Person pays tribute to the networks origins. When the channel launched in August 1981, the first image to ever appear on MTV was footage of the Apollo 11 moon landing, with the MTV flag edited into the introduction.
Taylor Swift flawlessly raps along to Nicki Minaj’s ‘Super Bass’
Taylor Swift was seen nailing the verses to Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” as the rapper performed to the VMA crowd.
Minaj received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the ceremony, which is “presented to artists for their outstanding contributions and profound impact on music video and popular culture”.
In her speech, Minaj said she wished Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston were still alive, adding: “I wish people took mental health more seriously.”
Read more here.
2022 MTV VMAs: Taylor Swift seen rapping all the words to Nicki Minaj’s ‘Super Bass’
Minaj received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
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