Rita Ora has paid an emotional tribute to Liam Payne as she hosted this 12 months’s MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Manchester, virtually a month after the One Route star’s demise.
Ora collaborated with Payne on their 2018 hit single For You, and her voice faltered as she remembered him, calling him “one of many kindest those that I knew”.
She delivered the tribute wearing a darkish swimsuit in a poignant second that was in distinction to the upbeat tone of the remainder of the ceremony.
The night time additionally noticed Taylor Swift proceed her world domination by making historical past as the primary particular person to win greatest artist thrice within the 30-year historical past of the EMAs.
The opposite winners included Raye, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyla and Benson Boone.
PA MediaSunday’s ceremony was the primary time the occasion has been held within the UK since 2017, and the third time Ora has acted as host.
In direction of the top of the present, she switched from her high-energy persona to talk about Payne.
“I simply need to take a second to recollect somebody that was very, very pricey to us,” she informed the viewers.
“We misplaced him lately, and he was an enormous a part of the MTV world and my world, and I feel plenty of yours at house and all people in right here tonight.”
She continued: “Liam Payne was one of many kindest those that I knew. And, you already know, there have been so many ways in which we had been speaking about honouring him, and I feel typically simply merely talking is sufficient.
“He had the largest coronary heart, and was at all times the primary particular person to supply assist in any method that he might.
“He introduced a lot pleasure to each room he walked into, and he left such a mark on this world. So let’s simply take a second to recollect our good friend.”
She then launched a brief video that includes pictures of Payne and a snippet of One Route track Night time Modifications.
Elsewhere throughout the night time, Swift received 4 awards – greatest artist, video (for Fortnight), stay act and US artist – however was not in Manchester to simply accept them.
She is making ready to renew the final leg of her Eras tour in Canada this week, and on Sunday was cheering on boyfriend Travis Kelce because the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos.
Getty PhotosIn a video acceptance speech, she stated: “I’m coming to you from the Eras tour, and I am so unhappy that I can not be with you tonight. However thanks a lot for these wonderful awards.
“The truth that you could have honoured the tour [and] all the pieces that is occurred with the album this 12 months, the video, it is simply unbelievable.”
She thanked Submit Malone, who featured on Fortnight, and her followers for voting for her.
“I had one of the best time touring in Europe this summer time, so it simply is fantastic so that you can do that,” she added.
PA MediaSabrina Carpenter received greatest track for her hit Espresso however she too was absent, acting on her Brief n’ Candy tour in San Diego on Sunday.
Raye was among the many stars who had been in Manchester – she picked up the award for greatest UK and Eire act and carried out two songs on the ceremony.
US singer-songwriter Benson Boone was additionally on the town, opening the present by enjoying the piano whereas suspended above the gang on the Co-op Stay area, earlier than selecting up the prize for greatest new artist.
“I used to be extraordinarily unprepared for this, however I’ll say I’ve not been doing music a loopy very long time,” he stated in his speech.
“I did not know that is the place my life would go. And a pair years in the past, I discovered my voice and I discovered my ardour and my profession.”
ReutersSouth African star Tyla received greatest R&B, greatest Afrobeats and greatest African artist, telling BBC Information she was “honoured and humbled”.
She was among the many night time’s different performers, as had been Shawn Mendes, Teddy Swims and the Pet Store Boys, who had been named pop pioneers.
US rapper Busta Rhymes obtained the worldwide icon award, telling the BBC beforehand: “Tonight is a dream come true. I am honoured. I really feel tremendously blessed.”
ReutersIt was a return to north-west England for Rhymes, who spent two summers residing together with his Aunt Velma in Morecambe as a toddler.
“I went to high school, went to karate faculty, and we illegally went to golf equipment, breakdancing to make just a little cash, and it was enjoyable,” he recalled of these journeys.
Morecambe can be the adopted hometown of boxer Tyson Fury who moved there after his marriage to spouse Paris in 2008.
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher was the one Mancunian winner, scooping the award for greatest rock act – however he was not there and the prize was not introduced on stage, as a substitute being revealed as a part of a short round-up of a number of classes.
The absence of any members of Oasis left it to Rita Ora to steer the gang in a short sing-along of their hit Wonderwall.
Getty PhotosOne other veteran Manchester band did flip up, nonetheless, with Shaun Ryder and Bez from Pleased Mondays threatening to steal the present in an unpredictable interview with Ora.
Ryder stayed largely straight-faced however his enthusiastic sidekick ended up together with his arm round Boone interrupting Ora’s introduction of Ok-pop woman group Le Sserafim.
The ceremony additionally gave nods to the host metropolis with the usage of Blue Monday by New Order to introduce the nominees, and by borrowing the diagonal black and yellow motif of the previous Hacienda nightclub.
The night time’s presenters included singer Mabel and her mom Neneh Cherry, who was among the many winners on the first EMAs in 1994, when 7 Seconds, her duet with Youssou N’Dour, was named greatest track.
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