Taylor Swift emerged as the victorious recipient of the top prize at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, thanks to her captivating “Anti-Hero” music video. The event, held at the esteemed Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, was Swift’s night from the very beginning. To kick off the festivities, NSYNC, the beloved boy band, made a surprise reunion appearance as the night’s first presenters, presenting Swift with the best pop video award. Dressed in matching suits, Justin Timberlake, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, Chris Kirkpatrick, and JC Chasez shared the stage with Swift. As a gesture of friendship, Bass presented her with a friendship bracelet, reminiscent of what fans often give her at her sensational shows. Swift graciously expressed, “You’re pop personified,” recognizing the group’s influence and impact.
Later in the night, Swift, who was the top nominee, made her way back to the stage to collect the coveted song of the year award for “Anti-Hero” and the best direction award. In total, Swift won nine out of the eleven awards she was nominated for, including the prestigious artist of the year award, which featured solely women nominees for the first time in VMA history. Her collaboration on the remix of “Karma” with Ice Spice earned the newcomer the title of best new artist. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she exclaimed, “Oh my God, this is so cool,” and expressed her appreciation for her fans, affectionately calling them her “munchkins.” The night was also filled with a plethora of new music. The host, Nicki Minaj, graced the stage with a mesmerizing performance of her latest single, the dreamy “Last Time I Saw You,” before offering a tantalizing preview of a fiery, new trap song from her highly-anticipated album Pink Friday 2.
As much as Swift’s success captivated the audience, the VMAs truly celebrated the global power of music. K-pop sensation Tomorrow X Together and Brazilian superstar Anitta unveiled their new collaboration, the glossy retro-pop track “Back for More.” Another K-pop group, Stray Kids, commanded the stage with their hit “S-Class,” while regional Mexicana star Peso Pluma delivered a captivating performance of “Lady Gaga.” Reggaetonera Karol G wowed the crowd with her energetic renditions of “Oki Doki” and the remix of “Tá OK.” Comedian Tiffany Haddish presented the inaugural “Best Afrobeats” award, given to Rema and Selena Gomez for their chart-topping hit “Calm Down.”
The acclaimed Colombian artist Shakira graced the stage to receive the prestigious Video Vanguard Award. She delivered an incredible bilingual medley of her iconic hits, including “She Wolf,” her collaboration with Rauw Alejandro “Te Felicito,” and the record-breaking “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” with Bizarrap. The legendary Wyclef Jean introduced her powerful set, harkening back to their collaboration on “Hips Don’t Lie.” Expressing her gratitude, Shakira thanked MTV for their unwavering support throughout her career, reminiscing that she was only 18 years old when she first became part of the MTV family. She also expressed heartfelt appreciation to her parents and brought her children along to share in the special moment. Additionally, Diddy, the acclaimed rapper, received the esteemed Global Icon Award, which was presented to him by Mary J. Blige and his daughter Chance Combs. This marked his first performance at the VMAs since 2005. He joins the ranks of previous winners, the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2022 and the Foo Fighters in 2021. (Read more MTV Video Music Awards stories.)
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