2022 VMAs Reaction
If I have anything to say about the 2022 VMAs, it’s that Nicki Minaj is an icon and that Taylor Swift is truly unhinged.
Minaj delivered a sensational 9-minute medley performance of her hits before receiving the coveted Video Vanguard Award.
Minaj has been a titan in this industry and is beyond deserving of this accolade.
Diehard Swifties had no idea if Swift would be at the event. Once she arrived, fan theories were everywhere.
While I believed her look and appearance was an easter egg for “Reputation (Taylor’s Version),” during her video of the year acceptance speech, Swift announced a new album, “Midnights,” which drops October 21.
Swift made this announcement 13 years after the infamous Kanye West VMA incident, and the album will be released on Kim Kardashian's birthday.
It appears Swift had been hinting at the album for at least a couple of months (knowing her, likely longer).
Out of the night's other performances, Lizzo and Bad Bunny were exceptional, while Jack Harlow deserves props for bringing Fergie to perform “First Class.”
The Johnny Depp appearance and Metaverse performance were beyond out-of-touch and just weird.
But this year, the VMA’s were entertaining. If I learned anything, it's that you shouldn't let Yung Gravy near your mom, Minaj is a legend and never doubt Swift.
- Sophia D’Ovidio
Although it wasn’t on Friday, the 2022 VMAs will go down in MTV history as the year of flashbacks.
Queen of rap, Nicki Minaj, gave a stellar performance Sunday night, including pieces from her early era. Going all the way back to 2010, Minaj performed her verse from Kanye West's “Monster”, followed by performing her latest release “Super Freaky Girl."
If there is one thing Minaj proved Sunday night, it's how timeless her work is.
Even after keeping a low profile in the rap world, Barbz everywhere stay tuned for her new releases, which never fail to climb the music charts.
Something that caught my attention was when Minaj acknowledged Taylor Swift as a force in the success of "Super Bass."
If you're like me and were totally clueless, this reference dates all the way back to 2011, when Taylor Swift did a radio interview with Nashville’s 107.5 and rapped a couple verses from Super Bass.
The spirit of Minaj continued to manifest itself through the speech of another artist she shared the stage with that night.
“And now to the b****es that’s got something to say about me in the press,” Lizzo said, time-traveling to Minaj's 2015 VMAs speech, allowing her win that night to be her clapback to fat-shaming comments made by comedian Aries Spears.
As they say, success is the best revenge, and as Lizzo put it, there’s no need to say something to clapback, she is winning.
We can’t forget to talk about Bad Bunny and his fiery performance in the next city over at the Yankee Stadium.
The Puerto Rican rapper brought the Caribbean to New York with the tropical set design and the flags draped above the stage.
A moment that has everyone talking is the kiss he shared with one of his male backup dancers. Instantly, everyone began to draw parallels between this moment and Madonna and Britney Spears’ kiss at the 2003 VMAs.
With history being repeated and made, the 2022 VMAs will surely go down as one of the most iconic MTV awards shows of this decade.
- Abigail Chachouote
Sophia D’Ovidio is a second-year majoring in communications. To contact her, email sgd5184@psu.edu.
Abigail Chachoute is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email axc6070@psu.edu.
