VMAs

Taylor Swift attended the 2022 MTV VMAs ceremony looking like a mirrorball in a crystalline, glimmering eye makeup, and her trademark red lip.

[@thethriftyswiftie](https://www.tiktok.com/@thethriftyswiftie/video/7137096997139402030?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1) couldn't help but notice that Swift's 2022 VMAs look bore a striking similarity to the one she wore in 2009, the year Kanye West infamously intercepted her acceptance speech. (This one came courtesy [Pat McGrath Labs's LiquiLust Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick](https://shop-links.co/1784327439034221172) in Elson 4.) The red carpet moment was signature Swift and potentially loaded with references to years past and hints to what could be coming. [looking like a mirrorball](https://www.allure.com/story/vmas-2022-best-fashion-beauty-looks) in a crystalline Oscar de la Renta dress covered in rhinestones and an equally glimmering eye makeup look, not to mention her trademark red lip.

Taylor Swift took home the top prize at the 2022 MTV VMAs on Sunday before she closed out the show with a surprisingly big announcement: Her new album.

“Thank you to Fergie for coming out with me tonight and clearing this song,” said Harlow after “First Class” won the award for song of the summer later in the show. “I dedicate this to Taylor and his family,” he said. “That I could become one of the biggest stars in the world without having to change my culture, my language, my jargon. She earned her 69th nomination for her 14th studio album “Madame X.” “Folklore” won album of the year at the 2021 Grammy Awards. “I know with every second of this moment that we wouldn’t be able to make this short film if it weren’t for you – the fans,” she said. Harlow, Lil Nas X and Kendrick Lamar each entered the awards tied for leading nominees with seven apiece. The 59-year-old actor appeared to float from the ceiling while wearing the iconic astronaut outfit with his face digitally inserted into custom’s helmet. To bring Fergie into the mix in this way means the world to me. “I wouldn’t be able to re-record my albums if it wasn’t for you. “I thought it would be a fun moment to tell you that my new album comes out Oct. “I will tell you more at midnight.”

The awards insist on engineering a viral moment that just won't be for an audience they don't understand. Swift has a different strategy.

The VMAs may be holding to their last thread of relevance, but Swift’s buoyant multi-generational stan army and her command of social media prove the merit of an old-school celebrity with a streamlined publicity plan and media training. Swift was spotted [doing the same](https://twitter.com/PopCrave/status/1564060001987186691) at the conclusion of Nicki Minaj’s career-spanning medley, in an old-school pan-to-the-crowd clip that blew that entire “celebrities having fun together” airplane segment out of the water. While accepting the award that made her the most decorated Video of the Year winner of all time, she caused two good old-fashioned water-cooler moments MTV could only dream of. [absolutely bizarre appearance](https://www.avclub.com/johnny-depp-reportedly-appearing-at-vmas-1849451794) by a holographic Johnny Depp dressed as a Moon Man (although the accepted term is now Moon Person, believe you me: this was a Moon Man if ever one has existed.) Given Depp’s [current allegations](https://www.avclub.com/johnny-depp-amber-heard-what-did-we-learn-trial-verdict-1849005238), the trite moment took on a disgusting political undertone; essentially, MTV threw shit from TikTok at a wall to see what sticks, even if it’s a domestic-abuse-case-turned-fan-cam. Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson’s link-up with Jack Harlow for “First Class” was an event highlight, it’s telling that the show probably would’ve gained more traction if she had just performed “Glamorous” instead of contributing to Harlow’s middling interpolation of her hit, a snippet of which went viral all the way back in April. Historically, that subset was clear: the VMAs were for young people who cared about showbiz, the thin and thick of it, the high-brow to the low-brow. She strutted the red carpet in a [MTV Video Music Awards](https://www.avclub.com/the-best-and-worst-moments-from-the-2022-mtv-vmas-1849467192/slides/4), which were held last night at New Jersey’s Prudential Center, are often considered one of the worst offenders when it comes to pandering. Back then, Swift was a brand-new country crossover artist who hadn’t even hit her third decade of life. Ironically enough, the true conversation starter at this year’s VMAs was the very same person it was in 2009: Taylor Swift. With the early Wild West of the Internet in the rearview mirror, getting online attention is now down to a science with little to no serendipity involved. The fanfare of nominations and the weight of an Oscar still stand, but one

Jack Harlow in Hermes · Bad Bunny · Lil Nas X in Harris Reed · Offset · Colton Haynes · J Balvin · Billy Eichner · Danny Ramirez in Saint Laurent.

From Nicki Minaj and Bad Bunny to BLACKPINK and Jack Harlow (with Fergie!), watch all of the 2022 MTV VMAs performances here.

[Anitta](http://billboard.com/artist/anitta) and [J Balvin](http://billboard.com/artist/j-balvin) delivered bootylicious dance-heavy performances, Jack Harlow brought out [Fergie](http://billboard.com/artist/fergie) for a full-circle “First Class” moment, and [Eminem](http://billboard.com/artist/eminem) and [Snoop Dogg](http://billboard.com/artist/snoop-dogg) ventured into the metaverse with a mind-blowing set that pushed the boundaries of technology and performance art on an awards show stage. [Nicki Minaj](http://billboard.com/artist/nicki-minaj) to a steamy smooch by way of [Bad Bunny](http://billboard.com/artist/bad-bunny), the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards did not disappoint in the slightest on Sunday (Aug. The Puerto Rican rapper broadcast his set from his sold-out show at Yankees stadium. [BLACKPINK](http://billboard.com/artist/blackpink) brought the “Pink Venom,” [Kane Brown](http://billboard.com/artist/kane-brown) made history as the first male country artist to perform at the show, and Bad Bunny shut down the stage all the way from a sold-out tour stop at Yankee Stadium. [during its set](https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/marshmello-khalid-perform-numb-2022-mtv-vmas-1235132045/). With emcees [LL Cool J](http://billboard.com/artist/ll-cool-j), [Jack Harlow](http://billboard.com/artist/jack-harlow), and Minaj helming the star-studded celebration of the year’s best music videos, this year’s VMAs ceremony featured performances from the hottest names in music. If you weren’t able to tune in last night and catch performances and appearances from the likes of Pop, rock, hip-hop, country, K-pop, and Latin music took center stage throughout the night in terms of performances, winners, and nominees. [performance of some of her biggest hits](https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/nicki-minaj-performs-mash-up-biggest-hits-2022-mtv-vmas-1235132113/), including “Super Bass,” “Anaconda,” and “Super Freaky Girl.” [brought his World’s Hottest Tour to the VMAs](https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/bad-bunny-performs-titi-me-pregunto-2022-mtv-vmas-1235132035/) with his performance. [master class in twerking](https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/anitta-performs-envolver-2022-mtv-vmas-1235132015/). awards show performance](https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/blackpink-perform-pink-venom-2022-mtv-vmas-1235132049/) with “Pink Venom,” which got Taylor Swift dancing in her seat.

Johnny Depp joked during a VMAs gig as the show's moonperson that he was "available" for anything following his libel trial with Amber Heard.

[wrote one fan](https://twitter.com/deppshollows/status/1564047084105465858). [Another said Depp](https://twitter.com/queenofdesertt/status/1564071534553169922) "proved" he was abused by his ex-wife and then was defamed. He will direct a film adaptation of Dennis McIntyre's play "Modigliani" based on Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani, according to a press release provided to USA TODAY from Depp's publicist Breanna Butler. [wrote Whitney Heard](https://www.instagram.com/whitheard/) on her Instagram story. [Another critic tweeted](https://twitter.com/liliandaisies/status/1564069587020382208): "Johnny Depp got to be at the VMAs because he’s an abuser. "Johnny Depp - a proven abuser - being at the VMAs making jokes is exactly why abuse victims don’t come forward and why the toxic culture of intimate partner violent persists. The entertainment industry is truly irredeemable." This man is iconic," Depp's fans loved the cameos while critics, including Heard's sister Whitney, slammed the network for including the controversial actor in the program. The jury awarded her $2 million in damages. [appeal the verdicts](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/07/21/amber-heard-files-appeal-johnny-depp-verdict/10118419002/) against them. "Oh, I’m also a dentist."