Yay, Kendrick Lamar!

MTV saved the best for first at the VMAs with Lamar performing a medley of hits off his album DAMN. The set was on fire…literally. (Also, see if you can spot Ellen DeGeneres dancing in the audience.) Lamar was one of the night’s biggest winners, taking home six awards including Video of the Year.

 

 

 
Katy Perry plays dress-up.

She arrived as a moonperson, almost donned a dress straight out of The Handmaid’s Tale and also channelled Khaleesi (with her dog Nugget playing a dragon). The “superhost” also performed her new track “Swish Swish” with Nicki Minaj to close the slam dunk (ha!) of an awards show.

There’s a good reason Lorde didn’t sing.

The singer’s interpretive dancer performance left many fans scratching their heads. But it turns out the Lorde was actually super sick with the flu and didn’t want to chance singing.

 

Fifth Harmony throws shade at former band member.

Also in the unexpected performance category: Fifth Harmony threw some shade at ex member Camila Cabello when they kicked a silhouette (who was obviously a representation of their former bandmate) off the stage at the start of their act. Watch below! 

 
THIS speech from Paris Jackson + remembering Heather Heyer.

““You know, if we were all to put our voices together, do you know the difference we could make? If we were to stand up all united as one, our impact it would be ‘yuge.’ It would be ‘yuge.’ Believe me, ‘yuge.’ And that’s not fake news,” said the daughter of the late Michael Jackson, who presented an award. “So, let’s leave here tonight remembering that we must show these Nazi, white supremacist jerks in Charlottesville and all over the country … We have zero tolerance for their violence, their hatred and their discrimination. We must resist.” Later in the show, Pastor Robert Lee, a descendant of Robert E. Lee spoke out against racism and introduced Susan Bro, the mother of Heather Heyer, who was killed in Charlottesville. Susan and her family are launching a foundation in Heather’s honour. 

 

 

 

The new T. Swift music video dropped. 

The pop star debuted the very cinematic/melodramatic video to “Look What You Made Me Do” – the first single off her upcoming album. Watch it here. 

 

Jared Leto wore a Gucci cape.

Just when you thought Gwyneth Paltrow’s white cape was the best the red carpet had ever seen, then came Leto in technicolour Gucci. His band 30 Seconds to Mars was there to release its new single.

Out here at the @MTV #VMAs ! Who's ready for our performance ? ?????? #WalkOnWater

A post shared by JARED LETO (@jaredleto) on

 
Thumbs up to Pink and Alessia Cara.

Both Pink and Alessia Cara left us with major feel-good fuzzies. Pink, who won Vanguard Award, told a moving story about teaching her six-year-old daughter Willow self-acceptance. “Baby girl, we don’t change,” she said. “We take the gravel in the shell and we make a pearl. We help other people to change, so they can see all kinds of beauty.” Meanwhile, Brampton native Cara performed her hit “Scars to Your Beautiful” taking off a wig and gown and her  makeup on stage.

 

Also thumbs up to DNCE and Rod Stewart.

This take on Stewart’s 1978 hit “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” was one of the best performances of the night. Pulling our bell bottoms out of storage now.

 

Teyana Taylor does her best Janet Jackson

Oh, and lest we forget Best Choreography Winner Teyana Taylor’s white crop top and wide-legged pants, an ode to Janet Jackson if we ever saw one.

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Teyana Taylor in 2017 and Janet Jackson in 1995. Author: Getty