Pop sensation Taylor Swift secured seven awards on Wednesday at MTV’s Video Music Awards, tying her with Beyoncé for the most career honors in the 40-year history of the event.
Swift won the top prize, Video of the Year, for her somber, black-and-white video 'Fortnight' featuring Post Malone.
The video depicts Swift in a sparse psychiatric hospital, a representation of what she envisioned while creating the music for her album The Tortured Poets Department.
"This video may appear quite sad, but it was actually the most enjoyable to film," Swift said as she accepted the VMA Moon Person statuette.
She mentioned hearing a cheer after each take, explaining that it came from her boyfriend Travis Kelce, a Kansas City Chiefs football player.
Everything this man touches turns to joy, fun, and magic, she added. I want to thank him for bringing that energy to this shoot.
Swift also expressed her gratitude to fans for voting in the VMAs and encouraged them to participate in the upcoming US presidential election. While she had endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in an Instagram post on Tuesday, she didn’t mention the candidate by name during her speech.
By the end of the night, 34-year-old Swift had brought her career VMA tally to 30, matching hip-hop icon Beyoncé. Her other awards that evening included Artist of the Year and Song of the Summer.
The Video of the Year win marked her third consecutive victory — following All Too Well (10 Minute Version) in 2022 and Anti-Hero in 2023 — and her fifth overall, setting a record for a single artist.
Earlier in the show, when 'Fortnight' won Best Collaboration, Swift praised Malone as "incredibly talented" and consistently courteous.
It took forever for me to get him to stop calling me ma'am, she joked, standing beside Malone on stage at the UBS Arena near New York City.
Malone reciprocated the praise, calling Swift one of the kindest and most talented people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.
He shared that he observed Swift directing the 'Fortnight' video while strapped to an operating room table on set, saying, It was pretty bada.
The VMAs, first broadcast by MTV in 1984, have become famous for iconic moments, such as Madonna and Britney Spears’ onstage kiss and Lady Gaga's infamous meat dress on the red carpet.
At Wednesday’s event, Chappell Roan, singer of ‘Good Luck, Babe,’ won Best New Artist. Dressed in a metallic ensemble and headpiece, she dedicated her award to “all the drag artists who inspire me” and to her fans within the LGBTQ+ community.
For all the queer kids in the Midwest watching, I see you and understand you, because I am one of you, she said. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be!
Blackpink’s Lisa took home the Best K-pop Video award for her solo track 'Rockstar.' South African artist Tyla won the Afrobeats category for 'Water,' while Brazilian singer Anitta claimed Best Latin Video for ‘Mil Veces.’ Eminem opened the show with ‘Houdini’ from his album The Death of Slim Shady, followed by a virtual appearance from country singer Jelly Roll for their hit 'Somebody Save Me.'
Katy Perry, the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award recipient, performed a medley of hits from Teenage Dream to Firework, wearing massive silver butterfly wings on a futuristic stage. Her husband, actor Orlando Bloom, presented her with the trophy, and the couple shared a long kiss on stage.
Thank you to MTV for embracing my weirdness from the very beginning, Perry said.
