Recapping The Best Moments Of The 2020 MTV VMAs

(Photo: MTV)

Bella Breakdown

Despite the mandatory shut down of many entertainment productions due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the MTV VMAs prevailed and created one of the first social distancing award shows. Last night the MTV VMAs achieved the impossible by creating an award show that adhered to social distancing standards with limited to no audience but plenty of celebrity appearances and performances.

The MTV VMAs managed to pull off this unique award show by hosting in several locations throughout New York City and a bunch of greenscreens. The VMAs host Keke Palmer started the evening with an announcement that the award show will be a tribute to the late actor Chadwick Boseman.

The awards show started with a performance of “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd, recreating the music video overlooking New York City at Edge at Hudson Yards with a massive fireworks display from the Hudson River. The Weeknd won two of the seven nominated awards for Best Vidoe and R&B Video with a limited acceptance speech for both saying, “It’s really hard for me to celebrate right now and enjoy this moment, so I’m just going to say: justice for Jacob Blake and justice for Breonna Taylor.”

Celebrity guests practiced social distancing and performers were wearing face masks throughout the night including performer and five-time Moonman winner Lady Gaga. Keke Palmer might have been the host of the show but Gaga made the most appearances throughout the night and wore a face mask through her entire debut performance of songs from her latest album ‘Chromatica.’

Gaga wore a face mask during her entire performance of her new hit songs, “Chromatica II,” “911,” “Stupid Love,” and “Rain on Me” featuring guest performer Ariana Grande. The entire cast ensemble for the performance wore face masks during the entire performance and Gaga wore a different mask for all 5 awards she won.

The MTV VMAs also honored Gaga with it’s first MTV Tricon award for being a triple threat through her singing, acting, and political activism. During her acceptance speech, Gaga imparted the importance of wearing masks to prevent the spreading of COVID-19 saying, “Wear a mask. It’s a sign of respect.”

The MTV VMAs featured two outdoor performances with a limited audience watching from cars with a drive-in style concert by Maluma and CNCO. The pop-up drive-in show was hosted at Brooklyn’s Skyline Drive-In for a unique awards show experience.

The VMAs featured a pre-show performance by Machine Gun Kelly of “My Ex’s Best Friend” featuring blackbear and “Bloody Valentine,” featuring drummer Travis Barker. MGK is known for rapping but is exploring more rock and alternative music as his career progresses. MGK also won the Best Alternative Video for “Bloody Valentine” and also presented an award for the VMAs.

The MTV VMAs made history featuring the first performance by K-pop group BTS that was streamed from South Korea that won four VMA awards including Best Pop and Best Group. If you didn’t get a chance to watch the two-hour awards show I highly recommend recapping some of the amazing performances.


Author: Karli Wallace

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