MTV VMAs 2022: Greatest and Worst Moments

August 29, 2022

That’s a wrap on the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards! Sunday night time’s present kicked off with a bang as co-host Jack Harlow stunned audiences with Fergie because the night time’s first performer, and ended simply as large with Taylor Swift asserting a brand new album on the best way.

In between, the night time supplied loads of meme-orable moments together with Lizzo’s video for good acceptance speech which included the standout one-liner: “Bitch, I’m profitable hoe!” Cheech and Chong additionally supplied audiences with some laughs as they struggled to learn the Teleprompters whereas introducing World Icon Award recipients Crimson Sizzling Chili Peppers. Anitta, who gave a sultry efficiency of “Envolver,” teased audiences by shouting “VMAs! Did you suppose I wasn’t gonna shake my ass tonight?!”

The metaverse was a recurring theme of this 12 months’s present, with loads of references to the brand new expertise each on and off the primary stage. Eminem and Snoop Dogg gave a hybrid in-person and “otherside” efficiency of their collab “From the D 2 The LBC” as Bored Apes. And whereas a lot of the performances have been filmed on location on the Prudential Middle in New Jersey, Unhealthy Bunny made historical past performing “Titi Me Pregunto” from New York’s Yankee Stadium the place he accepted the award for artist of the 12 months.

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Harry Kinds was additionally mere miles away from the VMAs, performing one in all his many Madison Sq. Backyard reveals in New York, however was capable of make a virtual appearance for his album of the year acceptance speech for “Harry’s Home.”

Essentially the most memorable VMA moments got here courtesy of seasoned performers and the forgettable moments have been considerably inexplicable contemplating the dimensions and attain of the MTV stage. Preserve studying for the 5 greatest and three worst moments of the 2022 VMAs.

BEST

A Swift Shock

Among the many present’s greatest moments was Taylor Swift surprising followers with the announcement of an all-new album set to drop on Oct. 21. The reveal got here whereas she was accepting the award for video of the 12 months, which she received for “All Too Nicely (10-Minute Model).”

Taylor Swift on the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards held at Prudential Middle on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey.

Christopher Polk for Selection

“You guys, I’m simply so proud of what we made, and I now that each second of this second that we wouldn’t have been capable of make this brief movie if it weren’t for you, the followers,” she mentioned, along with her crew and “All Too Nicely” star Dylan O’Brien standing behind her. “As a result of I wouldn’t have the ability to re-record my album [‘Red (Taylor’s Version),’ which included the winning song] if it weren’t for you. You emboldened me to do this. And I had kind of made up my thoughts that if you happen to have been going to be this beneficiant and provides us this, I assumed it is likely to be a enjoyable second to let you know that my brand-new album comes out Oct. 21. And I’ll let you know extra at midnight.”

Fergie’s First-Class Return

As one out of three emcees of the night time’s present, Harlow had quite a bit to point out up for, however he undoubtedly introduced the warmth when he stunned audiences with Fergie for the night time’s opening efficiency. The singer, who hasn’t carried out publicly in years, appeared on stage wearing a glitzy outfit stamped with a “First Class” brand, and sang “Glamorous” alongside Harlow.

The rapper opened the efficiency of the “Glamorous”-sampling “First Class” from an airplane set, dressed as an airline steward, strutting previous Avril Lavigne, Becky G, Lil Nas X, Jimmy Fallon and extra earlier than rapidly dropping the outfit for a glittery black ensemble and a red-carpet backdrop. He rapidly joined Fergie on stage as the 2 rounded off singing “Glamorous.” When the observe earned Harlow the music of the summer season award, he thanked Fergie for clearing the pattern and referred to as her 2007 hit one of many “greatest songs, most vital songs of my childhood — it influenced my entire fashion so ‘First Class’ is me!”

Nicki’s Monster Medley

The VMAs stage was all shades of pink this 12 months for Video Vanguard Award recipient and VMAs co-host Nicki Minaj’s medley. The rapper gave a theatrical efficiency of “All Issues Go,” “Roman’s Revenge,” and delivered a brief a capella rendition of “Monster.” The efficiency concluded with some R-rated choreography for her newest single “Tremendous Freaky Lady,” which the Barbs have been entrance and heart for, singing alongside — typically louder than Minaj herself.

Måneskin Singer’s Cheeky Chaps

It wasn’t the primary time ass cheeks made an look on the VMAs stage (see Christina Aguilera’s 2002 efficiency of “Soiled”), however Måneskin singer David Damiano delivered to thoughts historic moments from MTV of yore — recalling Bowie, Madonna and David Lee Roth — and presumably precipitated the cameras panning out momentarily. The Italian arena-rock revivalists all the time placed on a present, and a leather-chaps quantity baring a butt mid-verse is most actually that. Facet-note: there was far too little Victoria De Angelis proven through the broadcast, so right here she is under.

Ethan Torchio, Victoria De Angelis, Damiano David and Thomas Raggi of Måneskin on the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards held at Prudential Middle on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey.

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Unhealthy Bunny Reigns Supreme

Unhealthy Bunny made VMAs historical past on two counts this 12 months. First, he delivered his greatest Latin-nominated hit music “Tití Me Preguntó” stay from Yankee Stadium — marking the primary distant broadcast by MTV from the enduring location — and it’s value noting that the artist kissed one in all his male dancers through the efficiency. And secondly, Unhealthy Bunny is the first-ever non-English language artist to win a Moon Particular person for artist of the 12 months. Moments after performing, the Puerto Rican celebrity gave a short speech thanking MTV and instructed his viewers what the feat meant for “el orgullo Latino.” Unhealthy Bunny was nominated alongside Drake, Ed Sheeran, Harry Kinds, Jack Harlow, Lil Nas X and Lizzo.

WORST

Lip-Sync Snafus

Reside awards reveals are difficult and there’s no denying the quantity of labor put in to make them work — dump button abuse apart — nevertheless it appears at this 12 months’s awards, probably the most conspicuous blunder was the apparent lip-syncing. Among the many repeat offenders are artists like Blackpink, Anitta and Flo Milli — who devoted consideration to their killer dance routines however left little room for the precise singing.

Johnny Depp Takes a Dive

Add this to the listing of what we didn’t have to see at this 12 months’s MTV VMAs. Depp made a questionable look as a Moon Particular person, popping in for a number of random one-liners because the awards present returned from industrial breaks. Although Depp was not on the VMAs in his bodily type, his face appeared digitally within the helmet of a Moon Particular person floating above the stage. “And what? I wanted the work,” Depp mentioned through the starting of the present. “Hey VMAs, let’s get again to the fucking music, we could?” he mentioned in one other look, although his f-bomb was bleeped out for the published. And in a clip posted to his Instagram, Depp mentioned, “I simply need you guys to know that I’m obtainable for birthdays, bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, weddings, wakes, any outdated factor you want.” This can be the actor’s try at easing again into the light-hearted persona he as soon as introduced to the world pre-Amber Heard trial, however the transfer actually felt confused at greatest.

Flea’s F-Bomb Parade

On an evening when the bleep button was working extra time, it didn’t assist that some speeches have been simply plain unintelligible. To wit: Flea from the Chilli Peppers who, whereas accepting the award for greatest rock for his or her 2022 music “Black Summer time,” rattled off so many names, themes and ideas that he appeared to throw off the designated dump crew. For the document, listed below are the elements we might make out:
“To my bandmates: I really like you a lot. To my spouse, Melody, I really like you. To my kids, Sonny and Clara, I really like you. To everybody of you on the market watching on TV in right here, I really like you. I really like cockroaches and filth and bushes and each human being and fish.  And deer and deer antlers and birds and sky and love. And all the pieces that isn’t love is cowardice. I really like you. Thanks a lot in your help.”

John Frusciante, Flea, Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin, Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith on the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards held at Prudential Middle on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey.

Christopher Polk for Selection