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Nicki Minaj honours Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston as she shines a light on mental health in Vanguard Video speech at VMAs-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro
She received the highest honour of the night.
The rapper received the highest honour of the night (Picture: Invision)
Nicki Minaj honoured some music legends in her acceptance speech as she won big at the 2022 VMAs.
The rapper took home the coveted Michael Jackson Vanguard Video award, which is also known as the lifetime achievement award and is ‘presented to artists for their outstanding contributions and profound impact on music video and popular culture’.
Previous recipients have included The Beatles, David Bowie, and Madonna in the early years after the award was created in 1984, with the likes of Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez bagging the trophy in recent years.
This year, the Super Bass hitmaker became the second female rapper in history after Missy Elliot.
The rapper said she had ‘never ever written a speech in her life’, but went offstage to retrieve her phone to read her notes as she accepted the award.
During her speech, the 39-year-old said she wishes ‘Jackson and Whitney Houston were here’, adding: ‘I wish people understood what they went through’.
Nicki was overjoyed to receive the Vanguard Video gong (Picture: Invision)
She delivered an epic performance of her biggest hits (Picture: Getty)
In reference to how the music stars struggled with their own mental health, she continued: ‘I wish people took mental health seriously, even for the people you think have perfect lives’.
Nicki went on to thank key people who inspired ‘me and my flow’ and those who gave her opportunities, naming other artists such as Kanye West, Beyonce, Madonna, Britney Spears and Rihanna.
She also thanked Taylor Swift, who put in a surprise appearance at the event, crediting her for a large chunk of Super Bass’ success, before Taylor stood up to applaud and encouraged everyone around her to do the same.
Nicki became the second female rapper to receive the trophy (Picture: Getty)
She shone a light on mental health struggles in her speech (Picture: Getty)
Members of Nicki’s fan club, dubbed the Barbz, presented the trophy to her and lovingly said that they owed the rapper ‘everything’ as they celebrated her career.
Nicki also performed an epic medley of her biggest hits at the awards in New Jersey, including Roman’s Revenge, Beez in the Trap, Chun‐Li and Moment 4 Life.
In true Nicki style, she donned an all-pink ensemble, with her outfit featuring a bedazzled long sleeve corset top and ombre skater skirt.
As well as receiving the highest honour of the night, Nicki was nominated for a mega 17 nominations in total and took home five awards.
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Other talking points included Fergie serving us serious nostalgia as she made a surprise appearance with Jack Harlow to perform her noughties hit Glamorous.
The night was actually full of surprise appearances, as Johnny Depp made a virtual comeback as a moonperson, while Taylor Swift stunned everyone by announcing that she’ll be releasing her 10th studio album in October.
MTV VMAs 2022 winners list
Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny WINNER
Ed Sheeran
Harry Styles
Jack Harlow
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Song of the Year
Adele – Easy on Me
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever WINNER
Doja Cat – Woman
Elton John and Dua Lipa – Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)
Lizzo – About Damn Time
The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber – Stay
Album of the Year
Harry Styles – Harry’s House
Global Icon Award
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Video Vanguard Award
Nicki Minaj
Video of the Year
Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)
Best New Artist, Presented by Extra Gum
Baby Keem
Dove Cameron WINNER
Gayle
Latto
Seventeen
Måneskin
Push Performance of the Year
September 2021: Griff – One Night
October 2021: Remi Wolf – Sexy Villain
November 2021: Nessa Barrett – I Hope Ur Miserable Until Ur Dead
December 2021: Seventeen – Rock With You WINNER
January 2021: Mae Muller – Better Days
February 2022: Gayle – abcdefu
March 2022: Sheneesa – R U That
April 2022: Omar Apollo – Tamagotchi
May 2022: Wet Leg – Chaise Longue
June 2022: Muni Long – Baby Boo
July 2022: Doechii – Persuasive
Best Collaboration
Drake featuring Future and Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy
Elton John and Dua Lipa – Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)
Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow – Industry Baby WINNER
Megan Thee Stallion and Dua Lipa – Sweetest Pie
Post Malone and The Weeknd – One Right Now
Rosalía featuring The Weeknd – La Fama
The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber – Stay
Best Pop
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
Doja Cat – Woman
Ed Sheeran – Shivers
Harry Styles – As It Was WINNER
Lizzo – About Damn Time
Olivia Rodrigo – Traitor
Best Hip-Hop
Eminem and Snoop Dogg – From the D 2 the LBC
Future featuring Drake and Tems – Wait for U
Kendrick Lamar – N95
Latto – Big Energy
Nicki Minaj featuring Lil Baby – Do We Have a Problem? WINNER
Pusha T – Diet Coke
Best Rock
Foo Fighters – Love Dies Young
Jack White – Taking Me Back
Muse – Won’t Stand Down
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Black Summer WINNER
Shinedown – Planet Zero
Three Days Grace – So Called Life
Best Alternative
Avril Lavigne featuring Blackbear – Love It When You Hate Me
Imagine Dragons and JID – Enemy
Machine Gun Kelly featuring Willow – Emo Girl
Måneskin – I Wanna Be Your Slave WINNER
Panic! At the Disco – Viva las Vengeance
Twenty One Pilots – Saturday
Willow and Avril Lavigne featuring Travis Barker – Grow
Best Latin
Anitta – Envolver WINNER
Bad Bunny – Tití Me Preguntó
Becky G and Karol G – Mamiii
Daddy Yankee – REMIX
Farruko – Pepas
J Balvin and Skrillex – In da Getto
Best R&B
Alicia Keys – City of Gods (Part II)
Chlöe – Have Mercy
HER – For Anyone
Normani featuring Cardi B – Wild Side
Summer Walker, SZA and Cardi B – No Love (Extended Version)
The Weeknd – Out Of Time WINNER
Best K-Pop
BTS – Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)
Itzy – Loco
Lisa – LALISA WINNER
Seventeen – Hot
Stray Kids – Maniac
Twice – The Feels
Video for Good
Kendrick Lamar – The Heart Part 5
Latto – P*ssy
Lizzo – About Damn Time WINNER
Rina Sawayama – This Hell
Stromae – Fils de joie
Best Metaverse Performance
Blackpink the Virtual – PUB WINNER
GBTS – Minecraft
Charli XCX – Roblox
Justin Bieber – An Interactive Virtual Experience – Wave
Rift Tour featuring Ariana Grande – Fortnite
Twenty One Pilots Concert Experience – Roblox
Best Longform Video
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles
Foo Fighters – Studio 666
Kacey Musgraves – Star-Crossed
Madonna – Madame X
Olivia Rodrigo – Driving Home 2 U
Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) WINNER
Best Cinematography
Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar – Family Ties
Camila Cabello ft Ed Sheeran – Bam Bam
Harry Styles – As It Was WINNER
Kendrick Lamar – N95
Normani ft Cardi B – Wild Side
Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)
Best Direction
Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar – Family Ties
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
Ed Sheeran – Shivers
Harry Styles – As It Was
Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow – Industry Baby
Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) WINNER
Best Art Direction
Adele – Oh My God
Doja Cat – Get Into It (Yuh)
Drake featuring Future and Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy
Kacey Musgraves – Simple Times
Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow – Industry Baby WINNER
Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa – Sweetest Pie
Best Visual Effects
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
Coldplay and BTS – My Universe
Kendrick Lamar – The Heart Part 5
Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow – Industry Baby WINNER
Megan Thee Stallion and Dua Lipa – Sweetest Pie
The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber – Stay
Best Choreography
BTS – Permission to Dance
Doja Cat – Woman WINNER
FKA twigs featuring The Weeknd – Tears in the Club
Harry Styles – As It Was
Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow – Industry Baby
Normani featuring Cardi B – Wild Side
Best Editing
Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar – Family Ties
Doja Cat – Get Into It (Yuh)
Olivia Rodrigo – Brutal
Rosalía – Saoko WINNER
Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)
The Weeknd – Take My Breath
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