MTV VMAs 2022: Winners announced at raucous ceremony of shock cameos and surprise announcements

It’s been an eventful night over in New Jersey

Johnny Depp appears as Moonman astronaut at MTV VMAs 2022

The MTV VMAs took place Sunday 28 August at a live ceremony at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

This year’s event was hosted by LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow, with performances from Eminem and Snoop Dogg, Lizzo, K-pop group Blackpink, and Italian rock band Maneskin.

Taylor Swift announced her brand new album, Midnights, at the ceremony after making a surprise appearance.

Johnny Depp also made a (more controversial) appearance, with his head superimposed onto one of the Moon Person trophies.

As well as winning Video of the Year, Swift was spotted enthusiastically rapping along with Nicki Minaj’s ‘Super Bass’ from her seat in the crowd.

And though Harry Styles was nominated for a host of awards, he failed to attend the ceremony due to performing at one of his own concerts in New York.

Bad Bunny won the coveted Artist of the Year prize, shortly after driving fans wild when he kissed one of his male backing dancers during his performance.

See the full list of winners here.

Follow the liveblog below

Key Points

• Nicki Minaj wishes Michael Jackson was still alive during Video Vanguard speech
• Bad Bunny is Artist of the Year
• Lizzo calls out press during VMAs speech
• Anitta makes history as first Brazilian winner and performer
• Taylor Swift announces new album at MTV VMAs: ‘I will tell you more at midnight’
• Taylor Swift debuts artwork for next album

[28 August 2022 23:59 · Roisin O'Connor]

Meet the 2022 MTV VMAs nominees

It’s an eclectic bunch of nominees for this year’s MTV VMAs, which are taking place tonight live at New Jersey’s Prudential Center from 8pm ET (1am UK time).

Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, and Foo Fighters have received nominations, along with UK acts such as Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles.

You can find the full list of MTV’s VMA 2022 nominees below.

[29 August 2022 00:45 · Leonie Cooper]

The winners are already rolling in

The official ceremony hasn’t started yet, but winners are already being announced on the red carpet, with Italian glam rock band Måneskin taking the prize for Best Alternative for “I Wanna Be Your Slave” and Blackpink taking the gong for Best Metaverse Performance.

[29 August 2022 01:20 · Leonie Cooper]

Johnny Depp helps open the show

Johnny Depp’s rumoured appearance as the MTV “Moonman” trophy actually happened, with a super brief appearance from the actor after Lizzo and Jack Harlow’s ceremony-opening performances.

[29 August 2022 01:33 · Leonie Cooper]

Here’s Johnny

Read more on Johnny’s appearance from Peony Hirwani.

“I just want you guys to know I’m available for birthdays, bat mitzvahs, weddings, wakes – any old thing you need,” said Depp via video.

[29 August 2022 01:36 · Meredith Clark]

Lil Nas X stuns in incredible feather headpiece at 2022 MTV VMAs

Lil Nas X turned heads at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.

The “Industry Baby” rapper, who is nominated for seven awards at this year’s ceremony, walked the red carpet in a feather ensemble designed by Harris Reed.

The all-black look featured a structured skirt and massive feather headpiece. A shirtless Lil Nas X also showed off his toned figure, and opted for black leather pants underneath the feathered skirt.

Fans instantly took to social media to praise the rapper for his MTV VMAs fashion.

“ICONIC,” tweeted one user, while another fan said: “lil nas is so gorgeous i gasped.”

Read more about Lil Nas X’s stunning look here.

[29 August 2022 01:53 · Tom Murray]

Taylor Swift makes unannounced appearance in nude-look outfit

Taylor Swift returned to the VMAs after a three-year hiatus

She’s nominated in all 5 categories and has already won Best Longform Video, for her work on All Too Well: The Short Film.

Read more from Tom Murray here.

[29 August 2022 02:17 · Leonie Cooper]

Who’s won what?

We’re deep into the ceremony and already a host of big awards have been dished out.

Album of the Year has gone to Harry Styles for Harry’s House, while Red Hot Chili Peppers received the Global Icon Award and Nicki Minaj the Video Vanguard Award.

Taylor Swift has scored the Best Longform Video prize for All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version).

There’s still plenty more to go, so don’t go anywhere just yet...

[29 August 2022 02:46 · Meredith Clark]

When did the ‘Moon Person’ trophy receive its gender neutral name?

Fans of the MTV Video Music Awards may notice during the award show ceremony that the iconic statue has been referred to as “Moon Person,” rather than its original “Moonman”.

That’s because network president Chris McCarthy announced in 2017 that the trophy – which depicts an astronaut planting a flag with the MTV logo on the moon’s surface – will from now on be known by its gender neutral name.

“Why should it be a man?” McCarthy said at the time. “It could be a man, it could be a woman, it could be transgender, it could be nonconformist.”

The MTV Moon Person pays tribute to the networks origins. When the channel launched in August 1981, the first image to ever appear on MTV was footage of the Apollo 11 moon landing, with the MTV flag edited into the introduction.

Read more here.

[29 August 2022 02:47 · Tom Murray]

Taylor Swift flawlessly raps along to Nicki Minaj’s ‘Super Bass’

Taylor Swift was seen nailing the verses to Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” as the rapper performed to the VMA crowd.

Minaj received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the ceremony, which is “presented to artists for their outstanding contributions and profound impact on music video and popular culture”.

In her speech, Minaj said she wished Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston were still alive, adding: “I wish people took mental health more seriously.”

Read more here.

[29 August 2022 03:34 · Leonie Cooper]

Taylor in full flow

Taylor Swift might not be performing onstage tonight, but she couldn’t help getting stuck in anyway, rapping along to Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” and doing a pretty decent job of it.