Aside from acknowledging the 'devastating loss' of the 'Black Panther' star, host Keke Palmer also takes a moment to express support for the Black Lives Matter movement against racial injustice.
- August 31, 2020
AceShowbiz - Actress Keke Palmer launched the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards by dedicating Sunday's (August 30) show to the late Chadwick Boseman.
Two days after the news of his death first broke, host Palmer opened the ceremony by acknowledging the "devastating loss" of the "Black Panther" star, who passed away on Friday, August 28 following a secret four-year battle with colon cancer.
Recognizing the 43-year-old as a "true inspiration to all the fans he touched and everyone he encountered," she added, "We dedicate the night's show to a man whose spirit touched so many. He's a true hero, not just onscreen, but in everything he did. His impact lives forever."
Palmer also took a moment at early on in the show to express support for the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality and racial injustice, and call on music fans to stand united to "continue to fight to end systemic racism."
"It's our time to be the change we wanna see...," she declared, as she officially got the VMAs underway in New York City.
The first award of the night went to Lady GaGa and Ariana Grande, who secured Best Collaboration for "Rain on Me", while Taylor Swift scored Best Direction for shooting her own promo for "The Man".
Meanwhile, BTS (Bangtan Boys) were already double winners heading into the main event after picking up a pair of honors during the pre-show - Best Group and Best K-Pop prize for "On", and rap-rocker Machine Gun Kelly was also celebrating early as he took home Best Alternative for his "Bloody Valentine" video, starring his new girlfriend, actress Megan Fox.
The VMAs featured early performances from The Weeknd, Miley Cyrus and Maluma, whose sets were reportedly filmed ahead of time amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the New York Post.
