Flavor Flav Gives Jordan Chiles a Bronze Bell and Olympic Prize Money

Outspoken Team USA fan Flavor Flav took the stage with Olympian Jordan Chiles to present the night’s first award: for best collaboration. Taylor Swift and Post Malone won the Moon Person, but Chiles was also presented with an award.

In response to the news that Chiles had been stripped of her gymnastics bronze medal, the 65-year-old Public Enemy rapper presented Chiles with a bronze bell necklace — a gift he had previously teased on social media. In addition to the new accessory, he also said he would pay her the cash prize she would receive if she finished in third place.

“And guess what else,” Flav said onstage. “I have your prize money… I just wanted to surprise you with it. I didn’t want to tell you anything backstage.”

“But Jordan, you did your thing,” he told her. “Congratulations. You deserve everything.”

Taylor Swift and Post Malone share sweet acceptance speech

Taylor Swift started this year’s VMAs strong, winning the night’s first Moon Person for Best Collaboration for The Tormented Poets Department single, “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone.

“There’s a really clear reason why Post Malone is the favorite person to collaborate with in music,” Swift began, before addressing the musician: “It’s because you’re so ridiculously talented. You’re so versatile, and you’re the most down-to-earth person.”

Malone, in turn, complimented Swift, saying that while he was “absolutely at a loss for words,” she is “one of the kindest, most talented people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.”

Megan Thee Stallion Pays Tribute to Iconic Britney Spears VMAs Outfit

While Megan Thee Stallion wore a variety of ensembles during her evening as host, one outfit in particular was notable as it paid homage to one of Britney Spears’ iconic “I’m a Slave 4 U” performances at the 2001 VMAs. Megan mimicked the look down to a T-shirt, complete with a green bra top and a yellow live snake — although she was decidedly less than enthusiastic about her encounter with the snake and asked for the snake to be removed halfway through her introduction.

Megan wasn’t the only one to grace Spears with style: Tate McRae’s Roberto Cavalli gown, worn over Fleur du Mal lingerie, was similar to the navy minidress Spears wore on the red carpet in 2001…

Sabrina Carpenter Referencing Britney Spears, Kisses An Alien In Medley

…and Sabrina Carpenter’s medley performance not only featured an otherworldly set featuring astronauts and an alien, during her transition from “Please Please Please” to “Taste,” the spoken interlude from Spears’ “Oops!…I Did It Again” played in the background.

And if that wasn’t enough to get fans excited, Carpenter also punched the alien before starting to sing “Espresso.”

Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry kiss before her video speech at Vanguard

When Katy Perry took the stage to perform as the winner of this year’s Video Vanguard Award, she was introduced to the audience by a very special person.

“You fell in love with her like Katy Perry. I’m falling in love with her like Katheryn Hudson,” Perry’s longtime partner Orlando Bloom began his speech.

“You know her as a global superstar who brings love, light and her unique sense of humor to every song she writes and every music video she makes,” he continued. “I know her as a mother, as a partner, who brings that same love and joy to our family.”

After Bloom’s sweet introduction, Perry sang a medley of her greatest hits. At the end, she was greeted by Bloom, a kiss, and her brand new trophy.

Chappell Roan Sets Stage On Fire With Debut Performance At Awards Show

In her highly anticipated awards show debut, Chappell Roan did not disappoint. On the red carpet, she teased her performance’s medieval theme with a cape, sword and accompanying knight. Then, the “Hot to Go!” singer, introduced by one of her drag queen role models, Sasha Colby, began by firing a flaming crossbow at the castle backdrop. Clad in armor, Roan delivered a vocally impressive rendition of her song “Good Luck, Babe!” while dancing with sword-wielding knights.

When she ended the song by kneeling at the front of the stage, the audience at the UBS Arena erupted in cheers.

Halsey rocks in a garage

After hitting the red carpet in the same Versace dress that Elizabeth Hurley wore to the 1996 VMAs, Halsey continued the throwback theme with a ’00s-inspired performance of her latest single, “Ego.” The singer-songwriter rocked out on her electric guitar in a garage set with her band, which also featured Måneskin bassist Victoria De Angelis. Taking the crowd back to the peak of early ’00s pop-rock, she wore a sleeveless, collarless top and black tie with cutoff jeans and Converse.

Chappell Roan Gives Heartfelt Speech Recognizing Best New Artist

Roan won her first Moon Person trophy with a win for Best New Artist, beating out Gracie Abrams and Tyla. Accepting the statuette in her third look of the night, a chainmail gown, Roan began her speech with a shoutout to MTV, her record label, friends and family. She then went on to thank drag artists, queer and trans folks who “fuel pop,” and gay folks who “dedicate my songs to someone they love—or hate.”

“Thank you to the people who are fans, who listen to me, who hear me when I share my joys and my fears,” continued the singer, who recently spoke out about her fears about fame.

She concluded, “And to all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now, I see you. I get you, because I am one of you, and don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be.”

LL Cool J performs a nostalgic medley of hip-hop hits

Not only does 2024 mark the 40th anniversary of the VMAs, it also marks four decades since Def Jam Recordings first began. As one of the label’s original members, it was only fitting that LL Cool J made an appearance to commemorate the milestone. Joined by Flavor Flav and Public Enemy’s Chuck D, the rapper and actor performed a medley of hits including “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “Bring the Noise.”

Taylor Swift shouts out her boyfriend Travis Kelce in her acceptance speech

Fans were overjoyed when Taylor Swift shouted out her boyfriend Travis Kelce in her acceptance speech for Video of the Year, the award she won for ‘Fortnight.’

“The thing is that this video — it seems really sad when you watch it, but it was actually the most fun video to make,” she said. “One thing I’ll always remember is that whenever I finished a take and I said ‘cut,’ and we were done with that take, I would always hear someone cheering from the other side of the studio where we were recording it, and that person was my boyfriend, Travis.”

“Everything this man touches turns into happiness and joy and magic,” she added of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. “So I want to thank him for adding that to our shoot because I’ll always remember that.”