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

[29 August 2022 03:40 · Peony Hirwani]

Lizzo calls out ‘b******’ in the press during MTV VMAs speech

Lizzo has a message for the press.

During her 2022 MTV VMAs acceptance speech for the Video for Good Award, the 34-year-old singer called out “the b*tches that got something to say about me in the press”.

“You know what? I’m gonna say nothing. Maybe something like ‘Lizzo why don’t you clap back?’” she said. “Because b*itch, I’m winning h*e.

“This b*itch is winning, h*e,” Lizzo then yelled out of excitement.

Read more here.

[29 August 2022 03:45 · Peony Hirwani]

Nicki Minaj ‘wishes Michael Jackson was here’ during MTV VMAs acceptance speech

Nicki Minaj said she wished “Michael Jackson was” present at the 2022 MTV VMAs ceremony.

During her acceptance speech for the Video Vanguard award, the 39-year-old rapper said that she wishes “Jackson and Whitney Houston were here”.

“I wish people understood what they went through,” she added. “I wish people took mental health seriously, even for the people you think have perfect lives.”

Read more here.

[29 August 2022 03:46 · Leonie Cooper]

Bad Bunny is Artist of the Year

Bad Bunny has won the coveted Artist of the Year award – like Harry Styles he wasn’t able to attend the ceremony due to having his own gig tonight, but unlike Harry, Bad Bunny let the MTV cameras in to share one of his tracks live from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York.

[29 August 2022 03:50 · Peony Hirwani]

Harry Styles fails to attend MTV VMAs due to Madison Square Garden gig

Harry Styles failed to attend the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards due to a clashing Love On Tour show at the famous Madison Square Garden venue in New York.

The 28-year-old singer, who won the Album of the Year award for Harry’s House, made a virtual appearance at the star-studded ceremony to thank his fans.

“I obviously wouldn’t be holding this if it wasn’t for you,” Styles said in his acceptance speech. “I’m sorry I can’t be there with you tonight. I’m about to go on stage just down the road.”

Read more here.

[29 August 2022 04:24 · Leonie Cooper]

Taylor’s special news

Taylor Swift thrilled the crowd by announcing the release date of her brand new album while collecting the award for Video of the Year.

The star said the album will come out on 21 October, before saying: “I will tell you more at midnight.”

Not long to go...

[29 August 2022 04:36 · Tom Murray]

Anitta makes history

Brazilian performer Anitta made history with her nomination, performance and win tonight.

The “Envolver” singer was the first person from her nation to do any of the above at the longrunning US awards ceremony.

The Best Latin winner used her time on stage to make a political statement about the criminalisation of funk carioca, also known as favela funk.

Read more.

[29 August 2022 05:27 · Maanya Sachdeva]

Taylor Swift debuts artwork for next album

Taylor Swift has revealed more details of her forthcoming album after she teased its release at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night (28 August).

While accepting the award for Video of the Year at VMAs, Swift said that her new album will drop on 21 October.

“And I will tell you more at midnight,” she added.

At 12AM ET on Monday (29 August), the singer, 32, announced that the album is titled Midnights and shared its artwork on Instagram.

Full story here:

[29 August 2022 05:59 · Tom Murray]

Billy Eichner tears into the US Supreme Court

A highly animated Billy Eichner eviscerated the US Supreme Court and Justice Clarence Thomas, in particular, calling both “homophobes”.

Eichner was introducing Panic! At The Disco when he made the statements.

Thomas was among those to suggest that the court should revisit precedents on same-sex marriage after overturning the Roe v Wade verdict, limiting abortion access in the country.

Read more here.

[29 August 2022 06:00 · Leonie Cooper]

Here’s a full list of winners from the night

[29 August 2022 06:55 · Peony Hirwani]

‘Fired up’ fans react to Bad Bunny kissing a man during his performance

Bad Bunny fans are all “fired up” as the rapper kissed one of his backing dancers during his 2022 MTV Video Music Awards live performance.

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, who won the Album of the Year award, shared a passionate kiss with one of the dancers on stage during his remote performance from Yankee Stadium.

Read more.