MTV Video Music Awards
Nicki Minaj excited, Johnny Depp irritated
Nicki Minaj on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards.
© imago/UPI Photo
Nicki Minaj’s post-winning speech was a highlight of the MTV Video Music Awards. Johnny Depp’s appearance rather not.
The MTV Video Music Awards ceremony took place on Sunday. The big winner of the evening was Taylor Swift (32). With the video for “All Too Well” she won, among other things, the main prize for best video. The singer used her acceptance speech for some surprising news. She announced a new album called “Midnights”.
Taylor Swift’s album news wasn’t the only highlight in Newark, New Jersey. Nicki Minaj (39) gave an emotional acceptance speech on stage. The rapper was honored with the “Michael Jackson Video Vanguard” award – an irregular award for lifetime achievement.
Nicki Minaj’s Acceptance Speech: Bumpy at first, then soulful
The artist, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, first performed a medley of her songs. From her guest appearance on Kanye West’s (45) “Monster”, which made her a star in 2010, to her hit “Anaconda”. Her speech got off to a rough start. She wrote down the acceptance speech on her smartphone. But then she handed the phone to an assistant named Joe. And suddenly he was gone.
When Joe and the phone resurfaced, Nicki Minaj was the first to commemorate late greats. “I wish Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson were here,” she said. She then paid tribute to Pop Smoke, Juice Wrld and Nipsey Hussle. The three rappers had died young, murdered or died of drugs in recent years. She wished her father Richard to rest in peace. He died in a hit-and-run accident last year. Her manager Angela Kukawski also died in 2021, presumably murdered.
“I wish people would take mental health seriously,” Minaj added. “Even with the people who you think lead a perfect life”. The rapper alluded to her own problems with depression, which haunt her despite her success.
Johnny Depp’s appearance as an astronaut irritates
If the speech by Nicki Minaj, who also acted as co-moderator, was the highlight, Johnny Depp’s (56) guest appearance was the irritation of the evening. The actor’s face was projected onto the helmet of the astronaut, who has been MTV’s mascot for decades. Depp joked that he “needed the work” and can also be booked for birthdays.
After winning the defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard, the Hollywood star wants to revitalize his career. His guest appearance at the VMAs came so shortly after the court case, which Depp didn’t cover himself in glory either, but did do to media and Twitter observers not just good at.