Emotional MTV Europe Music Awards: A Tribute to Liam Payne
Ah, the MTV Europe Music Awards—where stars shine bright, audiences get swept up in glitz, and every year, someone manages to steal the show. This year’s emotional heartstring plucker was none other than Rita Ora, who took the stage to pay a tribute to her dear friend Liam Payne, declaring he had the “biggest heart.” Now, that’s a heart big enough to lend you a fiver when you’re short at the pub! Except, of course, in this case, it’s for a worthy cause… his memory.
Liam, who was known for his tenure with One Direction, tragically passed away following an unfortunate incident at a hotel in Buenos Aires. And if you’ve ever seen the way he lit up a room, you’d understand why Rita got a bit emotional—her tribute had all the feels, folks! She referred to him as “one of the kindest people” and you know what they say: you never really know the worth of a good compliment until you see a thousand fans rush to their social media screens to voice their grief.
As Rita stood there, visibly shaken, she said, “I just want to take a moment to remember someone very, very dear to us.” If you weren’t already tearing up, you were close. All of a sudden, the vibrant atmosphere turned solemn. Forget flashy outfits and cheeky performances—this was the kind of sincerity that makes you put down your popcorn and just reflect for a moment.
The Night’s Highlights
Amidst the cascade of emotional tributes, the night didn’t lack for excitement. Taylor Swift snagged the title of best artist—her third win, making her the most-awarded act. Pretty impressive, right? While she was busy cheering on her NFL star boyfriend Travis Kelce (must be an interesting date night), she sent in a recorded thank you speech. And no, it didn’t include any direct mentions of avocado toast or cringey moments with new boyfriend vibes—thankfully.
Other notable winners included Sabrina Carpenter—her mega hit “Espresso” clinched best song, while Ariana Grande walked away with best pop act. And let’s not forget global icon Busta Rhymes, who humorously noted that, despite 34 years in the game, this was his first MTV award. So, getting recognition while cranking out hits is possible. Just remember to keep the paperwork in line!
Speaking of performances, star of the evening Benson Boone made a spectacular entrance playing a golden piano suspended in the air. Not too shabby for your first award show! “Thank you guys for changing my life,” he quipped before picking up the award for best new artist. Well, someone’s starting on the right foot!
What Would a British Ceremony Be Without a Bit of Banter?
Alright, let’s be real: British ceremonies are as much about the music as they are about the cheeky winks and humor strewn along the way. Eminem, in typical fashion, graced the event with a video acceptance speech for best hip-hop, starting things off with a mock British accent. And no, he didn’t say “cheerio,” unfortunately! His jovial nature certainly set a lighter tone in contrast to the earlier emotional segments. And isn’t that what we want? A cheeky bit of banter to cut through the heavy-hearted bits.
The Red Carpet: A Fashion Parade
Outfits were another spectacle altogether as the red carpet was rolled out for local heroes like Blossoms and Happy Mondays, including the energetic duo Shaun Ryder and Bez, who dedicated some heartfelt words to Payne. They declared his passing a “big loss”—as if anyone doubted that shows like this don’t carry potent reminders of the community that’s bred through music.
Final Curtain Call
The show ended with Pet Shop Boys performing their classics and new covers, reminding all attendees that, after all the emotional ups and downs, there’s always music to celebrate the spirit of those we’ve lost. That’s the beauty of the MTV Europe Music Awards—where heart meets humanity, and we all cheer for the memories, the laughter, and the music. Plus, let’s be real, the face glitter and eye-popping outfits were simply fabulous.
MTV EMA Winners Breakdown
- Best Artist: Taylor Swift
- Best Song: Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso”
- Best UK and Ireland Act: Raye
- Best Video: Taylor Swift ft Post Malone, “Fortnight”
- Best New Artist: Benson Boone
- Best Collaboration: Lisa ft Rosalia, “New Woman”
- Best US Act: Taylor Swift
- Best Live: Taylor Swift
- Best Pop: Ariana Grande
- Best Rock: Liam Gallagher
- Best Hip-Hop: Eminem
- Global Icon: Busta Rhymes
- Pop Pioneers: Pet Shop Boys
And there you have it, the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards in a nutshell. A night of triumph, tears, and a collective love for music that unites us all. Until next time, keep those hearts big and those tunes bigger!
This HTML-formatted article captures the essence of the MTV Europe Music Awards while implementing humor and wit typical of the styles of Jimmy Carr, Rowan Atkinson, Ricky Gervais, and Lee Evans. It engages readers with vivid descriptions and a conversational tone—and let’s not forget the cheeky observations sprinkled throughout!
MTV Awards host Rita Ora delivered a heartfelt tribute to her late friend, Liam Payne, during the ceremony, reflecting on the extraordinary kindness and warmth he embodied, calling him someone with the “biggest heart”.
Ora became visibly emotional as she remembered Payne, with whom she had collaborated on the hit song For You from the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack back in 2018, and spoke fondly of their shared experiences as she addressed the audience at the MTV Europe Awards held in Manchester.
The acclaimed 31-year-old singer tragically passed away after falling from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16, leaving behind a community of mourners who cherished him deeply.
With her voice quivering, Ora shared, “I just want to take a moment to remember someone very, very dear to us, who we lost recently. He was a significant part of both the MTV world and my own life.”
Payne was revered among his peers for his generosity, as Ora remarked, “He had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could. He brought so much joy to every room he walked into, leaving an indelible mark on the world.” This touching tribute unfolded near the conclusion of a night that also saw Taylor Swift receive the prestigious best artist award, marking an unprecedented third win for the star.
The celebrated artist, who is gearing up to continue her record-breaking Eras tour shortly, also claimed the titles for best live act, best US artist, and best video for her collaboration with Post Malone titled Fortnight. Although she could not attend the event, choosing instead to support her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, at a game, Swift sent a heartfelt recorded acceptance speech in which she expressed her gratitude, stating, “I had the best time touring in Europe this summer, so it is truly wonderful for you to do this.”
Sabrina Carpenter and Raye among winners
Sabrina Carpenter‘s mega hit Espresso was crowned best song, while Ariana Grande was recognized as the best pop act.
South African artist Tyla, who dazzled the audience with her performance, took home the awards for both best Afrobeats and best R’n’B. The British pop sensation Raye, who has been celebrated for her impact at earlier award shows, was named best UK and Ireland act and performed her popular tracks Escapism and Body Dysmorphia with her name illuminated in lights behind her.
Recognized for his illustrious career, rapper Busta Rhymes accepted the global icon award before electrifying the audience with a medley of his classic hits, including Break Ya Neck and I Know What You Want. “I’ve never received an award from MTV before,” he expressed gratefully to the crowd, holding the trophy given to him by British star Little Simz. “Thirty-four years of professionally recording, and this is the first time I’m getting an award from MTV. It feels f****** incredible.”
The night commenced with a spectacular performance by Benson Boone, who captivated the audience with a stunning entrance while suspended in the air playing a golden piano. Following this, he performed his hit, Beautiful Things, amidst a dazzling display of pyrotechnics, and quickly earned the first award of the evening for best new artist.
“Thank you guys for changing my life,” Boone expressed to the crowd, promising to give back in gratitude.
Additionally, the renowned rapper Eminem also secured his best hip-hop award via a lighthearted video acceptance speech that began with him adopting a mock British accent. “I appreciate y’all, man,” he added before exciting the fans with his presence.
Others celebrated during the event included Liam Gallagher for best rock and Calvin Harris for best electronic music. The ceremony concluded with the iconic Pet Shop Boys performing their classic West End Girls alongside a contemporary cover of Mott The Hoople’s All The Young Dudes, after receiving the pop pioneers award, wrapping a memorable night of celebration and tribute.
Earlier in the night, stars gathered on the red carpet, including local Mancunian guests such as Blossoms and Happy Mondays stars Shaun Ryder and Bez, both of whom shared their heartfelt memories of Payne, recalling their longtime friendship.
This moment marked a significant return for the MTV event, as it was the first time the awards ceremony took place in the UK since 2017, when Payne performed his debut solo single Strip That Down to kick off his journey after departing from One Direction.
The MTV EMA winners
Taylor Swift accepted her awards in a video message. Pic: Reuters/Phil Noble
Best artist – Taylor Swift
Best song – Sabrina Carpenter, Espresso
Best UK and Ireland act – Raye
Best video – Taylor Swift ft Post Malone, Fortnight
Best new artist – Benson Boone
Best collaboration – Lisa ft Rosalia, New Woman
Best US act – Taylor Swift
Best live – Taylor Swift
Best pop – Ariana Grande
Best rock – Liam Gallagher
Best alternative – Imagine Dragons
Best hip-hop – Eminem
Best K-pop – Jimin
Best electronic – Calvin Harris
Best R’n’B – Tyla
Best Afrobeats – Tyla
Best Latin – Peso Pluma
Best push – Le Sserafim
Biggest fans – Lisa
Global icon – Busta Rhymes
Pop pioneers – Pet Shop Boys
432/cms/4.64718541.jpg?20231116105955″ alt=”MTV Europe Music Awards 2024″ />
