In a 24-hour period filled with personal revelations, political gestures, and patriotic sentiments, Taylor Swift emerged as a dominant force at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Wednesday, September 11. The award show followed her announcement endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 U.S. presidential race via Instagram.
Swift, an unexpected attendee at the VMAs, started the night by claiming the Best Collaboration award for her song “Fortnight” with Post Malone. In her acceptance speech, she acknowledged the historical significance of the date, September 11. Swift stated, “Waking up this morning in New York on September 11th, I’ve been thinking about what happened 23 years ago, everyone who lost a loved one, and everyone that we lost. That’s the most important thing about today, and everything that happens tonight falls behind that,” thereby linking her music to the gravity of the day.
As the event continued, Swift won the grand finale award: Video of the Year. In her acceptance speech, she expressed her gratitude towards her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, for his support during the production of the music video for “Fortnight.” Swift stated, “That one person was my boyfriend, Travis. Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic, so I want to thank him for adding that to our shoot, because I will always remember that.”
While many speculated that Swift would use her VMA platform to elaborate on her endorsement of Harris, she notably refrained from any explicit mention of the Vice President. However, Swift subtly encouraged political participation, urging her audience to register for the upcoming presidential election. “Please register to vote for something else very important that’s coming up, the presidential election,” Swift said, incorporating civic responsibility into the evening’s entertainment.
The host for the evening, Megan Thee Stallion, began the show in a red, white, and blue bedazzled leotard, embodying American pride. She humorously suggested having borrowed the outfit from Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles. The American spirit permeated the event, as Flavor Flav and Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles presented the first award. Keeping with his signature style, Flav gifted Chiles a clock necklace, a gesture honoring her accomplishments in sports.
Swift’s endorsement of Harris has already motivated over 337,000 individuals to visit voter registration websites. Her message at the VMAs further expanded this impact in a nonpartisan manner. As Swift exited the stage with multiple awards, her influence on both the music scene and the political arena was evident.
Swift’s adept balance between personal and political domains has established her as a significant cultural figure. While the VMAs recognized her with numerous awards, her ongoing advocacy for issues such as voting solidifies her status as more than just a musical icon.