Rita Ora has paid emotional tribute to Liam Payne as she hosts this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Manchester, almost a month after the One Direction star’s death.
He collaborated with Payne on his 2018 hit single For You, and his voice breaks down as he remembers him, calling him “one of the nicest people I’ve ever known”.
He paid tribute wearing a dark suit in a somber moment that contrasted with the upbeat tone of the rest of the ceremony.
The night also saw Taylor Swift continue her world dominance by making history as the first person to win best artist three times in the 30-year history of the EMAs.
Other winners include Raye, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyla and Benson Boone.
PA MediaSunday’s ceremony is the first time the event has been held in the UK since 2017, and the third time Ora has hosted it.
At the end of the show, he switched from his high-energy persona to talking about Payne.
“I just want to take a moment to remember someone who was very, very important to us,” he told the audience.
“We lost him recently, and he was a big part of the MTV world and my world, and I think a lot of you at home and everyone here tonight.”
He continued: “Liam Payne is one of the nicest people I know. And, you know, there’s a lot of ways we’re going to honor him, and I think that’s enough to say.
“He had the biggest heart, and was always the first to offer help in any way.
“He brought so much joy to every room he entered, and he left such a mark on this world. So let’s just remember our friend.”
He then introduced a short video featuring a photo of Payne and a snippet of One Direction’s Night Changes.
Elsewhere on the night, Swift won four awards – best artist, video (for Fortnight), live act and US artist – but was not in Manchester to accept them.
They’re getting ready to continue the final leg of their Eras tour in Canada this week, and there’s cheering for boyfriend Travis Kelce as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos.
Getty ImagesIn his video acceptance speech, he said: “I’m coming to you from the Eras tour, and I’m very sad that I can’t be with you tonight. But thank you very much for this amazing award.
“The fact that you appreciate the tour (and) everything that happened with the album this year, the video, it’s unbelievable.”
He thanked Post Malone, who performed at Fortnight, and his fans for voting for him.
“I had the best time traveling in Europe this summer, so it’s great that you’re doing this,” she added.
PA MediaSabrina Carpenter won best song for her hit Espresso but she was also absent, appearing on the Short n’ Sweet tour in San Diego on Sunday.
Raye was one of the stars in Manchester – he won the award for best UK and Irish act and performed two songs at the ceremony.
US singer-songwriter Benson Boone was also in town, opening the show by playing the piano while suspended above the crowd at the Co-op Live arena, before picking up the prize for best new artist.
“I wasn’t really prepared for this, but I will say that I haven’t done music in a long time,” he said in a speech.
“I didn’t know where my life would go. And a few years ago, I found my voice and I found my passion and my career.”
ReutersSouth African star Tyla won best R&B, best Afrobeats and best African artist, telling BBC News she was “honoured and humbled”.
He was among other performers of the night, like Shawn Mendes, Teddy Swims and Pet Shop Boys, who were named pop pioneers.
US rapper Busta Rhymes accepted the global icon award, telling the BBC earlier: “Tonight is a dream come true. I’m honoured. I feel very blessed.”
ReutersIt was a return to north-west England for Rhymes, who spent two summers with Aunt Velma in Morecambe as a child.
“I went to school, karate school, and we illegally went to the club, breakdancing to make a little money, and it was fun,” he recalled that trip.
Morecambe is also the hometown of boxer Tyson Fury who moved there after marrying his wife Paris in 2008.
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher was the only Mancunian winner, who took home the award for best rock act – but he was not present and the prize was not announced on stage, but revealed as part of a brief round of several categories.
None of the Oasis members left Rita Ora to lead the crowd with a short rendition of their hit Wonderwall.
Getty ImagesAnother veteran Manchester band appeared, but Shaun Ryder and Bez from Happy Mondays threatened to steal the show in an unpredictable interview with Ora.
Ryder remains mostly straight, but his enthusiastic sidekick ends up with an arm on Boone interrupting Ora’s introduction of K-pop girl group Le Sserafim.
The ceremony also gave a nod to the host city by using Blue Monday by Orde Baru to introduce the nominees, and by borrowing the diagonal black and yellow motif from the former Hacienda nightclub.
The night’s presenters included singer Mabel and her mother Neneh Cherry, who was a winner at the first EMA in 1994, when 7 Seconds, a duet with Youssou N’Dour, was named best song.
Getty ImagesMTV EMA 2024 winners:
- Best artist – Taylor Swift
- Best song – Sabrina Carpenter, Espresso
- Best video – Taylor Swift ft Post Malone, Fortnight
- Best collaboration – Lisa ft RosalĂa, New Woman
- Best UK and Ireland act – Raye
- Best US actress – Taylor Swift
- Best live – Taylor Swift
- Best pop – Ariana Grande
- Best hip-hop – Eminem
- The best K-pop – Jimin
- Best Rock – Liam Gallagher
- The best alternative – Imagine Dragons
- Best electronic – Calvin Harris
- Best R&B – Tyla
- Best Afrobeats – Tyla
- Best Latin – Peso Pluma
- Most recent – Benson Boone
- Best push – Le Sserafim
- Biggest fan – Lisa
- Global icon – Busta Rhymes
- Pop pioneers – Pet Shop Boys
