Reuters: The debut single from Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” album, titled “Anti-Hero,” delves into themes of insecurity, featuring a poignant chorus that proclaims, “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.” The singer expressed her amazement and gratitude on stage as she clutched her Moon Person statuette. She noted the significance of the award being fan-voted, saying, “This is unbelievable. The fact that this is a fan-voted award means so much to me.”
Earlier in the evening, the 33-year-old artist was visibly thrilled to receive the Pop Video award from members of the 1990s boy band NSYNC, a group that had previously received the same honor two decades ago. She playfully mentioned her fondness for NSYNC, saying to band members, including Lance Bass and Justin Timberlake, “I had your dolls! You are pop personified. So to receive this from your golden pop hands, it’s too much.” Swift’s “Anti-Hero” also clinched awards for Song of the Year and Best Direction.
Among the other winners, rapper Ice Spice was crowned Best New Artist. The band Stray Kids, formed through a reality show, secured the Best K-Pop award, while SZA earned Best R&B Video for “Shirt.” Rema and Selena Gomez made history by winning the first-ever VMA for Afrobeats music with their collaboration, “Calm Down.”
The VMA ceremony, held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, featured performances by notable artists such as Demi Lovato, Lil Wayne, Olivia Rodrigo, host Nicki Minaj, and rapper Sean Diddy Combs, who was honored with the Global Icon award. Minaj, the recipient of the Best Hip-Hop Video award, also joined forces with Grandmaster Flash, LL Cool J, and other rap luminaries for a multi-song celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, concluding with Run DMC’s “Walk This Way.”
Colombian pop sensation Shakira received the prestigious Video Vanguard Award for her lifetime achievements. After delivering a bilingual medley of her hits, including “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Whenever, Wherever,” she expressed her gratitude to her devoted fans, saying, “Thank you so much for being my army and helping me fight all my battles.”
