MTV Awards host Rita Ora has paid an emotional tribute to her good friend Liam Payne on stage on the ceremony, saying he had the “biggest heart”.
Ora, who duetted with Payne on the track For You from the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack in 2018, grew to become emotional as she spoke in regards to the One Route star in direction of the top of the occasion.
The 31-year-old pop star died after he fell from a third-floor balcony on the Casa Sur Lodge in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 16 October.
Talking on stage on the MTV Europe Awards in Manchester, Ora, 33, described Payne as “one of the kindest people” she ever knew.
Picture:
Pic: Reuters
Her voice shaking, Ora appeared tearful as she addressed the viewers. “I just want to take a moment to remember someone very, very dear to us,” she stated. “We lost him recently and he was a big part of the MTV world and my world.”
Payne “had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could”, she added. “He brought so much joy to every room he walked into and he left such a mark on the world.”
The tribute befell virtually on the finish of a ceremony which noticed Taylor Swift topped greatest artist. The star, who didn’t attend the occasion, additionally received the awards for greatest video and greatest dwell act, and gave a video speech to just accept all three.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso was topped greatest track, whereas Ariana Grande was named greatest pop act, and South African star Tyla picked up the awards for greatest Afrobeats and greatest R’n’B.
Picture:
Raye was named greatest UK and Eire act. Pic: Reuters/Phil Noble
British singer Raye, who cleaned up on the Brits earlier this yr, was named greatest UK and Eire act, and in addition carried out her hits Escapism and Physique Dysmorphia as her title shone in lights behind her.
Hip-hop star Busta Rhymes obtained the worldwide icon award earlier than performing a medley of hits together with Break Ya Neck, Put My Palms The place Your Eyes Might See, and I Know What You Need.
“I’ve never got an award from MTV before,” he stated, as he accepted the trophy from British star Little Simz. “Thirty-four years of professionally recording, this is the first time I’m getting an award from MTV.
“It feels f****** unimaginable.”
Picture:
Busta Rhymes was honoured with the worldwide icon award. Pic: Reuters/Phil Noble
The present was closed by the Pet Store Boys, who carried out the traditional hit West Finish Women and their new cowl of Mott The Hoople’s All The Younger Dudes, after being honoured with the pop pioneers award.
That is the primary time the MTV occasion, which is held in several European cities every year, has taken place within the UK since a ceremony in London in 2017 – when Payne carried out Strip That Down, his first solo single, to launch his profession after One Route.
It has additionally beforehand been held in Liverpool and Glasgow, however it is a first for Manchester and its new Co-op Reside area – which opened earlier this yr, albeit three weeks later than deliberate attributable to a number of setbacks and cancellations.
Final yr’s EMAs ceremony was deliberate for Paris, however was cancelled amid safety considerations “given the volatility of world events” following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas struggle.
The European awards are separate to the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), which occur within the US earlier within the yr.
Swift dominated at that ceremony, taking house seven gongs to equal Beyonce’s profession whole of 30 and match her as most-awarded musician in VMAs historical past.
