2021 MTV Europe Music Awards
| 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | 14 November 2021 |
| Location | László Papp Budapest Sports Arena, Budapest, Hungary |
| Hosted by | Saweetie |
| Most awards | BTS (4) |
| Most nominations | Justin Bieber (8) |
| Website | mtvema |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | MTV (International) Channel 5 (UK) 10 Shake (AUS) VH1 India and Voot Select (IND) |
The 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards were held on 14 November 2021 at the László Papp Budapest Sports Arena in Budapest, Hungary.[1] This marked the first time that Hungary hosted the awards show.
Justin Bieber led the nominations, with a total of eight, making him the most nominated male artist. Doja Cat and Lil Nas X were both tied, with six nominations, with Doja being the most nominated female act. BTS was the most nominated group and K-pop act, while Little Mix was the nominated female group. The category Best K-pop was introduced this year.[2]
Performances[]
| Artist(s) | Song(s) |
|---|---|
| Main show[3] | |
| Ed Sheeran | "Overpass Graffiti" "Shivers" |
| Saweetie | "Tap In" "Best Friend" "Out Out" |
| Imagine Dragons JID |
"Enemy" |
| Griff | "One Night" |
| Girl in Red | "Serotonin" |
| One Republic | "Run" (Filmed at Heroes' Square) |
| Maluma Rayvanny |
"Mama Tetema" |
| Måneskin | "Mammamia" |
| Kim Petras | "Coconuts" "Hit It from the Back" |
| YUNGBLUD | "Fleabag" |
Winners and nominations[]
| Best Song | Best Video |
|---|---|
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| Best Collaboration | Best Artist |
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| Best Group | Best New |
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| Best Pop | Best Electronic |
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| Best Rock | Best Alternative |
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| Best Hip-Hop | Best Latin |
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| Best K-Pop | Best Push |
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| Biggest Fans | Video for Good |
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Regional awards[]
Regional nominations were announced on 20 October 2021.
| Europe | |
|---|---|
| Best French Act | Best German Act |
| |
| Best Hungarian Act | Best Israeli Act |
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| Best Italian Act | Best Nordic Act |
| |
| Best Polish Act | Best Portuguese Act |
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| Best MTV Russia Act | Best Spanish Act |
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| Best Swiss Act | Best UK & Ireland Act |
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| Africa | |
| Best African Act | |
| |
| Asia | |
| Best Indian Act | |
| |
| Best Japanese Act | Best Korean Act |
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| Best Southeast Asian Act | |
| |
| Australia and New Zealand | |
| Best Australian Act | Best New Zealand Act |
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| Americas | |
| Best Brazilian Act | Best Canadian Act |
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| Best Caribbean Act | Best Latin America North Act |
| |
| Best Latin America Central Act | Best Latin America South Act |
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| Best US Act | |
| |
Controversy[]
After the decision to hold the MTV EMA in Budapest there has been criticism for the location, because of Hungary's decision to adopt laws against the LGBT community in June 2021.[4] President and CEO of MTV Entertainment Group Worldwide Chris McCarthy explained that no censorship by the Hungarian government will be tolerated:[5]
"As a gay man, my personal emotions got the better of me. After learning this legislation passed, my knee jerk reaction was that we should move the event to another country. However, I picked up the phone to connect with global LGBTQ+ advocates , [...] and consulted our LGBTQ+ employee resource group, Emerge. The decision was very clear to all of us, [...] we should not move the event. Instead, we should move forward, using the show as an opportunity to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary and around the world as we continue to fight for equality for all".
Performers included Kim Petras, as the first out trans performer at the VMAs,[6] with an act that was intentionally raunchy and "sex positive"[6] and who spoke out to say "It's going to be pretty powerful to be in Hungary and perform the show when these laws have just happened".[7] Other artists were also given stage time to speak out against Hungarian anti-LGBTQ+ policies, including Saweetie and Lil Nas X.[7]
There were also announced five "Generation Change Awards", introduced by Drew Barrymore and honouring LGBTQ+ activists from Iraq, Nigeria, Brazil, the United States and Hungary, with Budapest Pride organiser accepting the award in person;[7] the other honourees were , founder of IraQueer; Matthew Blaise, founder of The Oasis Project in Nigeria; , an Afro-Cuban queer and trans artist from the United States; and Erika Hilton, the first Black trans woman elected to the Municipal Chamber of São Paulo.[8]
References[]
- ^ "2021 MTV EMAs to broadcast live from Hungary". MTV. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ "Justin Bieber Leads 2021 MTV EMA Nominations". Billboard. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ "Maluma, Maneskin & Kim Petras Announced as 2021 MTV EMA Performers". Billboard. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "2021 MTV Europe Music Awards to 'Stand in Solidarity With Our LGBTQ Siblings' In Wake Of Host Hungary's Anti-Gay Laws". Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ Szalai, Georg (19 October 2021). "MTV to Counter Hungary's Anti-Gay Law as EMAs in Budapest Will "Stand in Solidarity" With LGBTQ+ Community". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ a b Moran, Justin (14 November 2021). "Kim Petras Brings Her 'Coconuts' to the EMAs Stage". Paper. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Spike, Justin (15 November 2021). "2021 MTV EMAs Displays Support For LGBTQ People During Ceremony In Hungary". HuffPost. Associated Press. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (14 November 2021). "As MTV EMAs Go Ahead in Budapest Despite Anti-LGBTQ Laws, Hungarian Activist Award Winner Details 'Fear and Censorship'". Variety. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- 2021 music awards
- MTV Europe Music Awards
- 2021 in Hungary
- November 2021 events in Hungary