2020 MTV VMAs: The Hits, Misses, & Hot Messes!

The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards aired Sunday night and the show was definitely one for the books. Obviously, with COVID-19 still running rampant across the country, the VMAs looked a bit different than usual — lots of faces mask, outdoor audience that was socially distant, and a large majority of the award recipients accepting their Moonman (actually it’s not the Moon Person) trophy from the comfort of their own home. But with all the changes, there were some things that stayed the same, some things that improved, and a few things that they could have nixed all together.

HITS

Keke Palmer did the damn thang as this year’s host She gave comedy, skits, songs, and more. We stan a multi-talented diva!

And the tribute to Chadwick Boseman was heartfelt and beautiful. Actually, the entire memoriam was incredibly thoughtful … but it was also the part of the show that caused a huge controversy.

MISSES
And that brings us to what was probably the biggest miss of the night. While the tributes highlighted many of the talented people we’ve lost this year, there was a glaring omission that fans could not forgive — Kobe Bryant!

Can’t believe Kobe Bryant was missing from the memoriam segment at the VMAs! WHAT?! #KobeBryant

— AbbyLovesHarryStyles (@AbbyAbbyb1) August 31, 2020

Did he have to? I mean he wrote Dear basketball and won an award he also rapped during his younger days. But cmon if the entire World can honor him, why can't VMA and even participats of the show honored Kobe.

— DeMar DeRoxas (@SwooooshLife) August 31, 2020

They mentioned #ChadwickBoseman at the beginning of the #VMAs #VMA #VMAStanCam #VMAs2020 but they didn't mention #KobeBryant in the memoriam segment.

— Love Reality (@LoveReality9) August 31, 2020

@MTV @vmas
How DARE you guys Not pay tribute to KOBE BRYANT!!!! He is an Academy Award winner and Legend!!! And you choose to leave him out of your 2020 tribute! #BoycottVMAs #VMAs

— Ucrbutterfly (@ucrbutterfly11) August 31, 2020

HOT MESSES

Lady GaGa winning ALL the awards felt a little like a hot mess … or maybe just lopsided. Like, we’re no haters, but c’mon son, she legit won FIVE of the nine she was nominated for. It definitely felt like the GaGa show especially since she also performed, was one of the few awardees present to give an acceptance speech, and she was also honored with the newly created Tricon Award. It was a bit of overkill. But, congrats girllll!

See a list of all the winners below! What did you think of the MTV VMAs?

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lady Gaga – Streamline / Interscope Records

SONG OF THE YEAR
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records

BEST COLLABORATION
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records

TRICON
Lady Gaga – Streamline / Interscope Records

PUSH BEST NEW ARTIST, Presented by Chime Banking
Doja Cat – Kemosabe / RCA Records

BEST POP
BTS – “On” – Big Hit Entertainment

BEST R&B
The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” – XO / Republic Records

BEST HIP-HOP
Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage” – 300 Entertainment

BEST ALTERNATIVE
Machine Gun Kelly – “Bloody Valentine” – Bad Boy / Interscope Records

BEST ROCK
Coldplay – “Orphans” – Atlantic Records

BEST LATIN
Maluma ft. J Balvin – “Qué Pena” – Sony Music Latin

VIDEO FOR GOOD
H.E.R. – ”I Can’t Breathe” – MBK / RCA Records

BEST MUSIC VIDEO FROM HOME
Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber – “Stuck with U” – Republic Records / Def Jam

BEST QUARANTINE PERFORMANCE
CNCO – Unplugged At Home

BEST K-POP
BTS – “On” – Big Hit Entertainment

BEST GROUP
BTS – “On” – Big Hit Entertainment

SONG OF SUMMER
BLACKPINK – “How You Like That” – Interscope Records / YG Entertainment

EVERYDAY HEROES: FRONTLINE MEDICAL WORKERS, Brought to you by EXTRA® Gum
Dr. Elvis Francois and Dr. William Robinson – ‘Imagine’
Dr. Nate Wood – ‘Lean On Me’
Jefferson University Hospital’s Swab Squad – ‘Level Up’
Jason ‘Tik Tok Doc’ Campbell
Lori Marie Key – ‘Amazing Grace’
*all winners

BEST DIRECTION
Taylor Swift – “The Man” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Streamline / Interscope Records – Cinematography by Michael Merriman

BEST ART DIRECTION
Miley Cyrus – “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Art Direction by Christian Stone

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Dua Lipa – “Physical” – Warner Records – Visual Effects by EIGHTY4 and MATHEMATIC

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
BTS – “On” – Big Hit Entertainment – Choreography by The Lab and Son Sung Deuk

BEST EDITING
Miley Cyrus – “Mother’s Daughter” – RCA Records – Edited by Alexandre Moors, Nuno Xico