Taylor Swift had Swifties tearing up as she thanked ‘magical’ boyfriend Travis Kelce while making history by earning her 30th award in her career at the MTV VMAs 2024 on Wednesday night.
The 34-year-old megastar made a rare comment about about her Kansas City Chiefs star beau, also 34, as she took home the biggest award of the night Video of the Year at the gala event held in Long Island, New York.
She – who earned seven total MTV VMAs 2024 awards this evening alone – was recognized for her collab with Post Malone titled Fortnight who also joined her on stage along with her team.
Taylor recognized her boyfriend of nearly a year Travis and his contribution to the music video during her speech as she said: ‘And you know, the things that this video seems very sad when you watch it, but it was like the most fun video to make and something I will always remember is that when I would finish I take and I would say cut and we’d be done with the take, I would always just here someone cheering and like woo from across the studio where we were shooting it and that one person was my boyfriend Travis.
‘Everything this man touches turns into happiness and find a magic so I want to thank him for adding that to our shoot because I will always remember that. ‘
It was a history making night for Taylor as she became the most decorated solo artist ever by earning 30 VMAs. She is technically tied with Beyonce at that number but the Cowboy Carter artist had previously won 2 with her former girl group Destiny’s Child.
She began her speech by saying: ‘Thank you. Directing this video and putting it together and writing was the most wonderful experience and that’s because of all the people that I got to make it with.
‘And that includes Ethan Hawke and Josh Charfles who were amazing that includes my amazing cinematographer who goes out of his way to work with a female director. And he’s a genius and I can’t believe I got to work with him as well as my amazing production designer. I worked with on the eras tour. Post Malone who we all love so much.’
Taylor beat out an impressive field including Ariana Grande ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)’, Billie Eilish ‘Lunch’, Doja Cat ‘Paint The Town Red’, Eminem ‘Houdini’, and SZA ‘Snooze’.
The megastar concluded her speech by thanking her fans as she said: ‘To the fans, I’m always trying to figure out a way to say thank you to you for making my life what it is, for making the Eras Tour for what it’s become, to make the Poet’s Department for what it’s become.
‘It that’s all you guys for doing that in voting for this award, so thank you mtv, for giving me this opportunity. To thank the fans, so thank you.’
Earlier in the night Taylor was the first artist to take home the coveted Moon Person.
The 34-year-old megastar star earned the win in the Best Collab category alongside Post Malone at the MTV VMAs 2024 on Wednesday night.
Taylor and the 29-year-old rapper earned the major win for their music video for hit single Fortnight.
As the award show landed on the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Taylor did not forget to recognize that dark day when she began her acceptance speech
She said: ‘You guys, I wanted to say waking up this morning in New York on September 11th, I’ve been thinking about what happened 23 years ago.
‘Everyone who lost a loved one, everyone that we lost, and that’s the most important thing about today. And everything that happens tonight.’
Taylor went on to thank her collaboration partner as she praised him for his professionalism and kind heartedness.
She explained: ‘But it’s so amazing to have the opportunity to thank and honor the people who work so hard with me on this video. There is a very clear reason why post Malone is everyone in music’s favorite person to collaborate with.
‘And it is because you are so ridiculously talented, you are so versatile, and you are the most down-to-earth person. It honestly, so unfailingly polite, it has taken me forever to get him to stop calling me ma’am. Do you want to say something?’
Post then took over as he continued: ‘Absolutely lost for words, one of the most kind and talented people I have ever had the honor of knowing. Just the amount of work and care and love she puts into everything she does for the music video — I watched her tied up to like the operating table thing in the music video and she was just directing the music video from there.
‘It was pretty bada**. But I just wanted to say thank you so very much for listening at thank you so very much, Taylor, and I love you very much.’
Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter had the biggest upset of the night as she defeated her mentor Taylor
The 25-year-old hitmaker earned the coveted Song Of The Year Moon
Person over the pop megastar for her smash hit Espresso.
Sabrina was taken aback as she began her speech saying: ‘Oh! Well, well, well, hi! I’ve literally never won one of these, this is really special. The first people who won are the fans.
‘If you clap after everything I say, they’re going to call me off the stage so once I can but I just want to say, you guys are the reason I get to do what I love. But also the reason we could have so much fun and share music with each other. I just feel so grateful, you’re the best of all of us, it’s so cheesy, but I love you.’
The artist – who performed her three hit songs earlier in the evening – finished off her speech by addressing her gratitude.
She concluded: ‘Thank you, thank you to my managers, thank you to my family, my cats and dogs at home watching, and thank you to the people who made Espresso with me. I love making music with you and I can’t wait to share more music with you. And thank you.’
Taylor was nominated for her song Fortnight which was a collaboration with Post Malone.
‘It was pretty bada**. But I just wanted to say thank you so very much for listening at thank you so very much, Taylor, and I love you very much.’
Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter had the biggest upset of the night as she defeated her mentor Taylor.
The 25-year-old hitmaker earned the coveted Song Of The Year Moon Person over the pop megastar for her smash hit Espresso.
Sabrina was taken aback as she began her speech saying: ‘Oh! Well, well, well, hi! I’ve literally never won one of these, this is really special. The first people who won are the fans.
‘If you clap after everything I say, they’re going to call me off the stage so once I can but I just want to say, you guys are the reason I get to do what I love. But also the reason we could have so much fun and share music with each other. I just feel so grateful, you’re the best of all of us, it’s so cheesy, but I love you.’
The artist – who performed her three hit songs earlier in the evening – finished off her speech by addressing her gratitude.
She concluded: ‘Thank you, thank you to my managers, thank you to my family, my cats and dogs at home watching, and thank you to the people who made Espresso with me. I love making music with you and I can’t wait to share more music with you. And thank you.’
The award comes as Perry prepares to release her upcoming seventh studio album 143 on September 20.
Her comeback single from the album, Woman’s World, flopped in the charts following its release over the summer.
The coveted Best New Artist prize went to one of the hottest artists of the summer, Chappell Roan, as she beat out an impressive field including Benson Boone, Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, and Tyla.
The 26-year-old Willard, Missouri native accepted the honor as she said:
‘Thank you! Can you believe it? We are at the VMAs! I’m going to read from — I wrote these from my diary. Thank you, MTV and Island Records, and my team and my family and friends.’
The Pink Pony Club hitmaker – who is lesbian – went on to thank the queer artists who have inspired her and sent out a message that she is hoping to inspire other queer kids too.
Chappell concluded: ‘I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspire me, who inspire me. And I dedicate this to queer and trans people who fuel pop. To the gays who dedicate my songs to someone they love or hate. And thank you to the people who are fans who listen to me, who hear me when I share my joy and my fears. Thank you.
‘And for all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now, I see you, I understand 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. Thank you!’
Eminem opened up the evening’s festivities with a performance featuring hits Houdini and Somebody Save Me.
See the full list of MTV VMAs winners below.
Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
Katy Perry
Best Alternative
Benson Boone – ‘Beautiful Things’ – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records
VMAs Most Iconic Performance
Katy Perry – ‘Roar’ (2013, live from Empire-Fulton Ferry Park)
Best Trending Video
Megan Thee Stallion ft. Yuki Chiba – ‘Mamushi’ – Hot Girl Productions
Song of Summer
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – ‘Fortnight’ – Republic Records
Best Rock
Lenny Kravitz – ‘Human’ – 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbH
Best Collaboration
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – ‘Fortnight’ – Republic Records
Best Afrobeats
Tyla – ‘Water’ – FAX Records / Epic Records
Song of the Year
Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Espresso’ – Island
Artist of the Year
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
Best Pop
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
Best R&B
SZA – ‘Snooze’ – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
Video for Good
Billie Eilish – ‘What Was I Made For (From The Motion Picture Barbie)’ – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Best Cinematography
Ariana Grande – ‘we can’t be friends (wait for your love)’ – Republic Records – Cinematography by Anatol Trofimov
Best Art Direction
Megan Thee Stallion – ‘BOA’ – Hot Girl Productions – Art Direction by Brittany Porter
Best Direction
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – ‘Fortnight’ – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift
Best Editing
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – ‘Fortnight’ – Republic Records – Editing by Chancler Haynes
Best Choreography
Dua Lipa – ‘Houdini’ – Warner Records – Choreography by Charm La’Donna
Best Visual Effects
Eminem – ‘Houdini’ – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Synapse Virtual Production, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic, Flawless Post
Best Hip-Hop
Eminem – ‘Houdini’ – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Best K-pop
LISA – ‘Rockstar’ – Lloud Co. / RCA Records
Best New Artist
Chappell Roan
Best Latin
Anitta – ‘Mil Veces’ – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment
MTV Push Performance of the Year
June 2024: LE SSERAFIM – ‘EASY’ – SOURCE MUSIC / Geffen Records
Video of the Year
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – ‘Fortnight’ – Republic Records