She might not have won any awards, but Parris Goebel left her mark on the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards.
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The singer’s politically-charged music video for track “Formation” took away the prize in a ceremony which saw her perform a grandstanding performance of 16 minutes.
Rihanna put on quite the show and performed some of her biggest hits from her entire career.
MTV presented its Video Vanguard Award – named after late King of Pop Michael Jackson – to Rihanna, in recognition to her contributions to pop culture. “It’s my family, my fans, my country …it’s women, it’s black women”, she said.
Drake won best hip hop video for Hotline Bling, but did not collect his trophy on stage because he was stuck in traffic, presenter Sean “Diddy” Combs said. “Have a handsome night”.
Rapper Kanye West debuted his new music video for “Fade” and addressed his ongoing controversy with Taylor Swift in front of the audience at the MTV VMAs.
West described himself as a “thought leader” in a rambling speech that included a defence of his “Famous” video and shout-out to former flame Amber Rose. “That’s why I called her”. The video also features nude waxworks of Swift, Donald Trump, West himself and his wife Kim Kardashian West.
Other performance highlights came from Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj, Britney Spears and rapper G-Eazy, and Nick Jonas, who took over Manhattan’s Tick Tock Diner for a rendition of Bacon with Ty Dolla Sign.
Rihanna’s “This Is What You Came For” for Best Male Video, Fifth Harmony ft. “The rapper-singer-producer performed his hit “(Expletive) Up Some Commas”.
Coldplay, Desiigner, Fergie and Alessia Cara earned multiple nominations, while David Bowie – who died from cancer earlier this year – is nominated for best direction, cinematography, art direction and editing for “Lazarus”. The music video, which shows him looking frail in bed with bandaged eyes, was released just days before the icon’s January 10 death. The girl group also won song of the summer for “All In My Head (Flex)”.
The show returns to NY on Sunday, where Beyonce is the leading nominee with 11. As Lochte, who is dealing with trouble after filing a false robbery report over an incident during the Rio Olympics, Fallon lied onstage about writing Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” and directing the videos nominated for video of the year.
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Adele was behind Beyonce with eight nominations, but the British singer did not attend the show.
