MTV VMAs 2016: A Gif-by-Gif Breakdown of the Night’s Highlights
From Drake professing his love to Rihanna’s eye rolls to Beyoncé swinging her bat into a camera.
The MTV Video Music Awards aren’t about who won–they are about spectacle, stunts, and performances.
This year, Beyoncé got the show started before even stepping inside Madison Square Garden by bringing along Blue Ivy, who made waves on the red carpet in a braids, a mini tiara, and a glittery princess gown with enough tulle to retail for a reported $11,000.
Beyoncé and Blue Ivy arriving to the 2016 MTV VMAs.
Once inside, Rihanna kicked off the evening with the first of four performances, in a pastel pink millenial wonderland with a coordinating Hood by Air ensemble.
Rihanna at the 2016 MTV VMAs in pastel pink Hood by Air.
Ariana Grande, for her part, turned the arena into the world’s biggest SoulCycle class when she brought out the spinning bikes for a performance of “Side by Side” with Nicki Minaj.
Ariana Grande performing “Side by Side” at the 2016 MTV VMAs.
Between that, appearances from Olympians like Serena Williams and Michael Phelps, and Teyana Taylor‘s impeccably toned – and somehow recently pregnant – body, fitness is definitely in. The latter took centerstage thanks to Kanye West, who used his four minutes to debut his new video for “Fade,” starring Taylor, a 25-year-old dancer who’s signed to his GOOD Music label, writhing around a gym in the company of her husband, Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player Iman Shumpert.
But before that, Kanye also used his speech to touch on everything from Taylor Swift to gun violence in Chicago. On the sidelines, Kim Kardashian was beaming like a proud first lady (at least, before heading back to Snapchat.)
Find someone who looks at you the way Kim looked at Kanye at the 2016 MTV VMAs.
Kimye at the 2016 MTV VMAs.
Nick Jonas, meanwhile, confounded everyone but moving his performance to nearby Tick Tock Diner, serenading a more opaquely clothed Ashley Graham in a leather tracksuit while Joanne the Scammer looked on.
Nick Jonas’s performance at the 2016 MTV VMAs, featuring Ashley Graham and Joanne the Scammer at the nearby 24-hour Tick Tock Diner.
Back in the stadium, Beyoncé showed everything how things are done with a show-stopping 16-minute medley from “Lemonade,” adding another “greatest hit” to the timeline of her history at the Awards by using a baseball bat to smash a camera, breaking the fourth wall. Between leading her dancers into a formation of the women symbol to lighting the place up in flames, she was literally on fire.
Beyoncé on fire at the 2016 MTV VMAs.
Beyoncé putting everyone to shame at the 2016 MTV VMAs.
Beyoncé at the 2016 MTV VMAs.
Next up, after an intro from Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears made a valiant effort to follow up on Queen Bey by grinding up on G-Eazy with a microphone somewhat in hand.
Britney Spears and G-Eazy at the 2016 MTV VMAs.
And finally, after being stuck in traffic, Drake made it to the ceremony in time to present Rihanna with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, and was just as thoughtful as his congratulatory billboard to the singer might have led you to expect. In his speech, Drake recalled meeting Robyn Fenty in Toronto, in 2005. He then proceeded to tell the crowd he’s been in love with her pretty much ever since – what could have easily turned into a marriage proposal, except Rihanna simply laughed, rolled her eyes, and kissed him on the cheek.
Drake professes his love to a semi-amused Rihanna at the 2016 MTV VMAs.
Drake going in for the kill with Rihanna at the 2016 MTV VMAs.
Rihanna having the last laugh at the 2016 MTV VMAs.
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