Hosted by the ‘Icy Girl’ rapper –\u00a0 Saweetie, the 2021 Europe Music Awards were held in Budapest today. It was a celebration of the year\u2019s biggest musical artists as well as a statement of support for LGBTQ people in the event\u2019s host country – Hungary.<\/p>\n
The show at the Papp Laszlo Sportarena in Budapest marks the first time that the country hosted the awards show. It aired live on MTV in 180 countries, featuring performances by some of the world\u2019s most popular artists. Some of the LGBTQ musicians at this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards spoke out on the stage against policies in Hungary that are widely seen as curtailing LGBTQ rights.<\/p>\n
The ‘Peaches’ hitmaker Justin Bieber led the pack with eight nominations at the 2021 MTV EMA, but it was Ed Sheeran took home big wins as his song ‘Bad Habits’ earned him the awards for ‘Best Artist’ and ‘Best Song’ while Lil Nas X, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, Maluma and Saweetie herself also enjoyed the taste of victory during the electrifying MTV Europe Music Awards.<\/p>\n
It was the South Korean septet BTS who had the best night overall. They won a total of four wins in categories including ‘Best Pop’, ‘Best K-Pop’, ‘Best Group’ and ‘Biggest Fans’.<\/p>\n
We take a look at some of the greatest performances and memorable moments from the 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards \u2013<\/p>\n
Ed Sheeran opened the night at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2021 by performing his latest single, “Overpass Graffiti,” at the Papp L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Budapest Sportar\u00e9na. The English singer-songwriter later explained<\/a> on the red carpet that the outfit he wore for his first EMA appearance and performance was inspired by his new song. The singer performed the first track ”Overpass Graffiti’ against a futuristic backdrop with a guitar in his hands.<\/p>\n[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pjOfEX0tt2c]\n Sheeran performed along with his band. He later returned after an outfit change. His second performance of the night was ‘Shivers’ and both the versions of the new tracks sounded a little different than usual.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The ‘Icy Girl’ rapper and the show’s host – Saweetie descended onto the 2021 MTV EMA stage by riding a giant snowflake to perform a medley of her songs starting with ‘Tap In’ then ‘Best Friend’. She performed alongside her dancers, The Icy Girls. The rapper who donned a bejeweled catsuit concluded the medley with ‘Out Out’. Her red ponytail and crystal boots stood out. Saweetie completed the look with a crystalized microphone for her stunning performance!<\/p>\n She also spoke out on the need to show \u201crespect for the LGBTQ community.” The American rapper presented Sheeran with the award for ‘Best Artist’ and she won the ‘Best New’ award.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The global superstar BTS took home four MTV Europe Music Awards today making them the most awarded artists at this year’s event and only one of the two names to snatch more than one win. The group won all the awards they were nominated for – ‘Best Group’, ‘Best Pop’, ‘Biggest Fans’, and ‘Best K-Pop’. The only other act to win more than one trophy except for the septet at the 2021 MTV EMA was Ed Sheeran. He snagged the ‘Best Artist’ and ‘Best Song’ awards.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Petras emerges from a giant coconut on stage for her ‘Coconuts’ performance. The stage was transformed into a tropical-inspired jungle gym for the same. Kim sang “My coconuts, you can put ’em in your mouth,” on the track. Then, the singer transitioned the performance into Hit It From The Back. This is an even sexier bop and she nails the performance as she grinds on dancers while performing it.<\/p>\n As per Paper Magazine<\/a>, “Petras’ provocative live show was intentional, putting forth a sex-positive performance from a transgender artist in a country where queerness is wrongly conflated with pedophilia. Budapest, Hungary recently passed anti-LGBTQ legislation banning the legal recognition of trans citizens, outlawing gender transition and gay adoption, and prohibiting content to minors that showcases homosexuality or gender change.”<\/p>\n “I believe in freedom of expression and I don’t believe in censorship doing anything good for people, so I’m just really excited that MTV is taking a stand against censorship and putting diversity into the show,” Petras said<\/a> of the EMAs, according to Paper Magazine. “Music is such a powerful thing because it’s supposed to break barriers and it doesn’t matter in music what gender you are, or what sexuality or what skin color you have \u2014 music is a very universal thing.”<\/p>\n The Washington Post reported<\/a> that earlier this month, Kim Petras expressed support for MTV\u2019s decision to hold the awards in Hungary, which she said she hoped would inspire the local LGBTQ community to \u201cnot give up on themselves.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m transgender and performing at the EMAs,\u201d Petras said<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be pretty powerful to be in Hungary and perform the show when these laws have just happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n During the show this year, the Europe Music Awards recognized the winners of the ‘Generation Change Award’. This is a new category that honored five activists fighting against anti-LGBTQ policies all around the world.<\/p>\n Actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore honored the winners through a video message, saying<\/a> they are doing \u201cincredible things for the LGBTQ+ community.\u201d \u201cI am proud to help elevate these young voices. They are all gravely asking to love who they want and to love who they are,\u201d Barrymore said<\/a>.<\/p>\n The winners were LGBTQ activists from Iraq, Nigeria, Brazil, the United States, and Hungary and Hungarian activist Viktoria Radvanyi, an organizer with Budapest Pride accepted the ‘Generation Change Award’ in person at the show, according to the Washington Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Radvanyi dedicated the award to Hungary\u2019s LGBTQ community. Viktoria urged<\/a> them to \u201cget out and vote together\u201d in Hungarian elections scheduled for April. Hungary\u2019s right-wing governing party faces its most serious challenge in these elections since it took power in 2010.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cNever accept the notion that you should tolerate violence and discrimination,\u201d Radvanyi said<\/a>. \u201cEvery single human being is born equal, period … Let\u2019s not let them force us back to the closet.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Following their iconic win, the Italian rock band took the stage amid flying sparks and treated the audience to a flashy rendition of ‘Mammamia’. They completed it with a giant glowing neon sign that beamed the name of their song \u201cMAMMAMIA\u201d in the background and some impressive pyrotechnics.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nThe Show\u2019s Host, Saweetie Performs a Medley of Her Songs After Descending Onto the Stage Riding a Giant Snowflake<\/h4>\n[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sNtQh_Rb20w]\n
BTS Dominate the 2021 MTV EMA with the most wins<\/h4>\n
Kim Petras became the first transgender artist in the awards\u2019 history to perform at the show<\/h4>\n[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=G_KQfl7MQIc]\n
EMAs recognized the winners of the ‘Generation Change Award’<\/h4>\n
First-time EMA performers M\u00e5neskin took the stage to perform ‘MAMMAMIA’<\/h4>\n[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dI27oXm66rM]M\u00e5neskin, the rock band that took home the award for ‘Best Rock’ thanked fans and supporters in their acceptance speech, and Lead singer Damiano David had a total mic-drop moment. He said<\/a> that “we also wanna say that people usually told us we are not gonna make it with our music, well, I guess you were wrong.”<\/p>\n
YUNGBLUD closed the night with his latest single ‘fleabag’<\/h4>\n