MTV’s Europe Music Awards returned as an in-person event after a virtual 2020 edition due to the pandemic. MTV said Sunday’s EMAs, hosted in Budapest, would be held to show solidarity with Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community following a June law banning the “display and promotion of homosexuality” among under-18s.r
It said the 2021 EMAs, held at the Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports arena, would be “a global celebration of music for all audiences around the world”.
“I am so excited, I am very grateful to MTV. I think censorship of any kind of love sucks, and this is kind of a stand against that,” international pop star Kim Petras, the first transgender performer at the EMAs, said on the red carpet.
Some gay couples arriving at the show were kissing on the red carpet and others were dressed in rainbow-colored clothes in a show of support for LGBTQ+ people.
Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran won the best artist and the best song for “Bad Habits.
Lil Nas X was awarded best video for “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” while Korean band BTS won the most awards, four, including best pop, best K-pop, best group, and biggest fans.
First-time EMA winners MΓ₯neskin took home the award for best rock, while the show host and performer Saweetie won best new.
Nicki Minaj earned a top award for best hip-hop, Olivia Rodrigo was awarded best push, Maluma won best Latin, and YUNGBLUD snagged the award for the best alternative.
For the first time, the “MTV EMA Generation Change Award” winners were recognized during the EMAs main show, honoring five young people promoting equality while fighting against anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
Viktoria Radvanyi, a Hungarian board member of Budapest Pride, accepted the award on behalf of the winners.
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