Rita Ora Pays Emotional Tribute to Liam Payne at MTV Europe Music Awards

As host of this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Manchester, Rita Ora delivered an emotional tribute to Liam Payne, nearly a month following the death of the One Direction star. Ora, who collaborated with Payne on their 2018 hit single “For You,” spoke of him with a faltering voice, describing him as “one of the kindest people that I knew.” Her tribute, delivered while she was dressed in a dark suit, marked a poignant moment that stood in stark contrast to the generally upbeat atmosphere of the event. The evening also featured Taylor Swift extending her global success, achieving a historic milestone as the first individual to secure the best artist award three times in the 30-year history of the EMAs. Additional award recipients included Raye, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyla, and Benson Boone. The ceremony on Sunday marked the first occasion the event had taken place in the UK since 2017, and it was Ora’s third time serving as host. Nearing the conclusion of the show, she shifted from her usual high-energy demeanor to address Payne. She addressed the audience, stating, “I just want to take a moment to remember someone that was very, very dear to us.” She continued, “We lost him recently, and he was a big part of the MTV world and my world, and I think a lot of yours at home and everybody in here tonight.” Ora further stated: “Liam Payne was one of the kindest people that I knew. And, you know, there were so many ways that we were talking about honouring him, and I think sometimes just simply speaking is enough.” She added, “He had the biggest heart, and was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could.” Concluding her remarks, she said: “He brought so much joy to every room he walked into, and he left such a mark on this world. So let’s just take a moment to remember our friend.” Following her speech, she presented a brief video montage showcasing photographs of Payne, accompanied by an excerpt from the One Direction song “Night Changes.” In other highlights of the night, Swift secured four awards—best artist, video (for “Fortnight”), live act, and US artist—though she was not present in Manchester to receive them. She is currently preparing to recommence the final segment of her “Eras” tour in Canada this week, and on Sunday, she was seen supporting her boyfriend Travis Kelce as the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Denver Broncos. In a video acceptance speech, she conveyed: “I am coming to you from the Eras tour, and I’m so sad that I can’t be with you tonight. But thank you so much for these amazing awards.” She continued, “The fact that you have honoured the tour [and] everything that’s happened with the album this year, the video, it’s just unbelievable.” Swift expressed gratitude to Post Malone, who was featured on “Fortnight,” and to her fans for their votes. She concluded by adding, “I had the best time touring in Europe this summer, so it just is wonderful for you to do this.” Sabrina Carpenter received the award for best song for her popular track “Espresso” but was also absent, as she was performing on her “Short n’ Sweet” tour in San Diego on Sunday. Raye was one of the notable attendees in Manchester, where she accepted the award for best UK and Ireland act and performed two songs during the ceremony. American singer-songwriter Benson Boone was also present, commencing the show by playing the piano while suspended over the audience at the Co-op Live arena, prior to receiving the award for best new artist. In his acceptance speech, he remarked: “I was extremely unprepared for this, but I will say I’ve not been doing music a crazy long time.” He continued: “I didn’t know this is where my life would go. And a couple years ago, I found my voice and I found my passion and my career.” South African artist Tyla secured awards for best R&B, best Afrobeats, and best African artist, conveying to BBC News that she felt “honoured and humbled.” Tyla was also among the evening’s performers, alongside Shawn Mendes, Teddy Swims, and the Pet Shop Boys, who were recognized as pop pioneers. American rapper Busta Rhymes was presented with the global icon award, stating to the BBC prior to the event: “Tonight is a dream come true. I’m honoured. I feel tremendously blessed.” This marked a return to north-west England for Rhymes, who, during his childhood, spent two summers residing with his Aunt Velma in Morecambe. He reminisced about those visits, saying: “I went to school, went to karate school, and we illegally went to clubs, breakdancing to make a little money, and it was fun.” Morecambe is additionally the adopted hometown of boxer Tyson Fury, who relocated there following his marriage to his wife Paris in 2008. Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher was the sole Mancunian recipient, winning the award for best rock act; however, he was absent, and the prize was not declared on stage but instead disclosed within a concise summary of multiple categories. With no members of Oasis present, Rita Ora took the initiative to lead the audience in a short sing-along of their popular song “Wonderwall.” Nevertheless, another veteran Manchester band did appear, with Shaun Ryder and Bez from Happy Mondays nearly overshadowing the event during an unpredictable interview with Ora. While Ryder maintained a mostly serious expression, his energetic companion ultimately put his arm around Boone, interrupting Ora’s introduction of the K-pop girl group Le Sserafim. The ceremony additionally paid homage to the host city by utilizing “Blue Monday” by New Order to present the nominees and by incorporating the diagonal black and yellow design of the former Hacienda nightclub. Presenters for the evening included singer Mabel and her mother Neneh Cherry, who was among the award recipients at the inaugural EMAs in 1994, when “7 Seconds,” her duet with Youssou N’Dour, earned the title of best song. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.