Taylor Swift wins seven VMAs, ties Beyoncé for lifetime record

TAYLOR Swift took home seven awards at MTV’s Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Wednesday, tying with Beyoncé for the most career wins in the event’s 40-year history.

Swift won the top prize, Video of the Year, for her video “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone. The black-and-white video depicts Swift in a psychiatric hospital, a setting she said reflected her state of mind while creating her album “The Tortured Poets Department.”

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“This video might seem sad, but it was the most fun to make,” Swift said while accepting the Moon Person trophy. She added that her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, cheered her on from the set. “Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun,” she said. “I want to thank him for bringing that to this shoot.”

Swift also thanked her fans for voting and encouraged them to participate in the upcoming US presidential election. She had previously endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in an Instagram post but did not mention Harris during the VMAs.

By the end of the night, Swift had brought her career VMA total to 30, equalling Beyoncé’s record. In addition to Video of the Year, her wins included Artist of the Year and Song of Summer.

Taylor Swift attends the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York. (Photo: Getty Images)

This marked Swift’s third consecutive Video of the Year award, following her extended version of “All Too Well” in 2022 and “Anti-Hero” in 2023. It was her fifth overall win in that category, setting a new record.

Earlier in the evening, when “Fortnight” won Best Collaboration, Swift praised Malone as “ridiculously talented” and “unfailingly polite.” “It has taken me forever to get him to stop calling me ma’am,” she joked.

Malone praised Swift, saying she was “one of the kindest and most talented people I’ve ever had the honour of knowing,” adding that he watched her direct the video while strapped to an operating room table on set.

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At Wednesday’s ceremony, Chappell Roan was named Best New Artist and dedicated the award to drag performers and her LGBTQ+ fans. Blackpink’s Lisa won Best K-pop Video for “Rockstar,” while South African artist Tyla won the Afrobeats category with “Water,” and Anitta took home the Best Latin Video award for “Mil Veces.”

The show opened with Eminem performing “Houdini” before joining Jelly Roll via video feed for “Somebody Save Me.” Katy Perry, recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, performed a set including hits like “Teenage Dream” and “Firework,” with her husband Orlando Bloom presenting her with the trophy.

(With inputs from Reuters)