Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended1620554328

Vax Live concert: Meghan Markle gives first TV appearance after Jennifer Lopez, Foo Fighters and more perform

Fundraiser was designed to ‘reunite the world’ following the pandemic

Jacob Stolworthy,Clémence Michallon
Sunday 09 May 2021 10:58 BST
Comments
Meghan Markle makes first TV appearance since Oprah interview

Vax Live, a concert designed to “reunite the world” after the coronavirus pandemic, aired on Saturday (8 May) after taking place last weekend.

The pre-taped event brought together celebrities and political leaders, including President Joe Biden, Prince Harry, Jennifer Lopez and Foo Fighters. Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, Jimmy Kimmel, Sean Penn and David Letterman also served as guest speakers during the event staged at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Global Citizen, an action group seeking to “end extreme poverty by 2030”, was behind the show, which doubled as a fundraiser for the organisation.

Lopez opened the evening with a moving rendition of “Sweet Caroline”, welcoming her mother Guadalupe Rodríguez onto the stage. Rodríguez sang her own version of the Neil Diamond classic, changing the lyrics to “Sweet Jennifer” – as she used to do when Lopez was a child.

Eddie Vedder provided another of the evening’s highlights, in an energetic set introduced by Sean Penn.

In a guest appearance, Olivia Munn discussed the rise of hate crimes targeting Asian American people amid the pandemic. Several of the evening’s speakers stressed the importance for countries not to stockpile doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, sharing it instead with nations which need it.

Prince Harry appeared onstage on two different occasions during the show. He and Meghan Markle acted as campaign chairs for the event, promoting vaccine access equality and voicing their support for vaccination efforts. Meghan couldn’t attend the event in person, presumably because she’s currently pregnant with her second child, but she contributed a pre-recorded video message which aired during the broadcast.

“As campaign chairs of Vax Live, my husband and I believe it's critical that our recovery prioritises the health, safety and success of everyone – and particularly women, who have been disproportionately affected by this pandemic,” she said in her remarks, which marked her first TV appearance since she and Harry spoke with Oprah Winfrey for a headline-making interview which aired in March.

She added: “My husband and I are thrilled to soon be welcoming a daughter. It's a feeling of joy we share with millions of other families around the world. When we think of her, we think of all the young women and girls around the globe who must be given the ability and the support to lead us forward.”

Foo Fighters delivered the longest set of the evening and were joined by AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson for a rendition of “Back in Black”. Dave Grohl and his band mates, like the rest of the acts at Vax Live, seemed visibly thrilled to be back on stage, and gave an energetic, thrilling performance.

Follow the event as it happened with our live blog:

1620517999

Mild spoiler alert, but if you want to get a taste of most the exciting things to come during tonight’s show, you can read our writer Kevin EG Perry’s review right here. I, for one, am very much looking forward to Jennifer Lopez’s performance with her mother, Guadalupe Rodriguez:

Foo Fighters team up with AC/DC singer to rock Vax Live – but J Lo’s mum steals the show

Prince Harry’s in-person appearance scored the biggest spontaneous standing ovation of an event that marked a return to some familiarity

Clemence Michallon9 May 2021 00:53
1620518179

Looking at photos of the pre-recorded event without having seen the broadcast (yet) makes for a fun guessing game. What’s the story behind Jimmy Kimmel’s costume? What’s David Letterman telling the crowd? And is there truly no limit to Jennifer Lopez’s fabulousness?

Clemence Michallon9 May 2021 00:56
1620518357

One minute left before the start!

Clemence Michallon9 May 2021 00:59
1620518737

And the show begins with a pre-recorded skit, Oscars-style, featuring The Try Guys. After the pre-recorded segment, they are seen stepping onto the stage during the actual event, and judging by the crowd’s cheers, everyone is VERY HAPPY to be at a concert for the first time in months.

Clemence Michallon9 May 2021 01:05
1620518912

Wooo Jennifer Lopez is the first on stage! She tells the crowd she’s going to sing “Sweet Caroline”, which her mother sang to her when she was a child. And look at that flowery stage!

Clemence Michallon9 May 2021 01:08
1620518996

Having been to many weddings, I have heard MANY covers of “Sweet Caroline”, and let me tell you Jennifer Lopez’s version is absolutely amazing.

Clemence Michallon9 May 2021 01:09
1620519130

Aaaw Jennifer Lopez’s mother is here! Guadalupe Rodriguez sings her own version, with the lyrics “Sweet Jennifer” as a tribute to her daughter. I’m not tearing up, you’re tearing up!

Clemence Michallon9 May 2021 01:12
1620519372

It’s time for Prince Harry’s address! He thanks the vaccinated frontline workers watching as part of the live audience, and says the Covid-19 vaccine “must be distributed to everyone, everywhere”, stressing the need for it to be distributed fairly “in every corner of the world”.

Clemence Michallon9 May 2021 01:16
1620519504

We hear from actor Amitabh Bachchan, who makes an appeal for pharmaceutical companies to support India as the country faces a devastating second wave of Covid-19.

Clemence Michallon9 May 2021 01:18
1620519595

Selena Gomez, who is hosting tonight’s event, has stepped onto the stage. She also stresses the need for those in power to support vaccination efforts.

Clemence Michallon9 May 2021 01:19

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in