At Sunday evening’s MTV Europe Music Awards in Manchester, Host Rita Ora took a very emotional backseat to acknowledge her late friend and collaborator, Liam Payne. The love and warmth radiating from Payne dove deep into the personal connection Ora shared with him from when she previously worked together on the hit single For You. Then, there was a tribute video featuring moments of Payne and One Direction’s Night Changes, bringing an emotional feel to what otherwise had been a high-energy night.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift solidified her reign with four wins including Best Artist, a historic three-timers of the category for the event’s 30-year span. Though Swift couldn’t attend in person due to tour conflicts, she made her presence known through a video message where she thanked her fans for never-ending support.
Standout performances, including from Best R&B and Best Afrobeats Artist Tyla, completed the night. It was highly Manchester-influenced, having a highly nostalgic Manchester feel to it, touting the host city with nods toward iconic bands like Oasis, the Hacienda nightclub, and so much more in a great mix of heartfelt tributes and vibrant musical performances.
