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The annual nightmare known at the MTV Video Music Awards have come and gone, but the repercussions are still being felt the world over. What we all just endured was darker than any of us could’ve imagined. But fearless, intrepid journalism is all about wading through that darkness to uncover whatever small kernels of light may be shrouded. That’s why The Daily Beast took on the daunting task of watching all fifty—sorry, three—hours of the 2022 VMAs: to hopefully find something worth raving about.
The lead-up to this year’s Video Music Awards was already paved with tumult. There were rumors of a Johnny Depp appearance (evil!), a confirmed joint performance by Eminem and Snoop Dogg (why!), and the show’s highest honor—the Video Vanguard award—going to Nicki Minaj (someone with arguably only one good video!). For an awards show that has already been flailing in the deep waters of mediocrity for almost a decade, it looked as though this might be the year it finally drowned. What actually transpired was somewhere between boring and bleak, the final proof that a once-great staple of entertainment is long past serving any purpose.
Kyndall Cunningham: Let’s start from the top. Because the night (shockingly) started out on a high note with Jack Harlow’s performance of “First Class,” despite being a pretty sleep-inducing song, in my opinion.