The best moments of the MTV VMAs 2024

Flavor Flav gives Jordan Chiles a bronze watch and Olympic prize money

Outspoken Team USA fan Flavor Flav took the stage with Olympian Jordan Chiles to present the night's first award—for Best Collaboration—and while Taylor Swift and Post Malone took home the Moon Man, Chiles was offered an award of his own.

In response to the news that Chiles had been stripped of her bronze medal in gymnastics, the 65-year-old Public Enemy rapper presented Chiles with a bronze necklace with a watch – a gift he had previously hinted at on social media. In addition to the new accessory, he also said he would pay her the cash prize she would have received as a third-place finisher.

“And guess what's next,” Flav said on stage. “I got your prize money… I just wanted to surprise you with it. I didn't want to tell you anything backstage.”

“But Jordan, you did your thing,” he told her. “Congratulations. You deserve everything.”

Taylor Swift and Post Malone give a sweet acceptance speech

Taylor Swift started this year’s VMAs strong, winning the first Moon Person of the evening for Best Collaboration for The “Tortured Poets” section Single “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone.

“There's a very clear reason why everyone in the music industry loves working with Post Malone,” Swift began, before turning to the musician: “It's because you are so incredibly talented. You are so versatile and you are the most down-to-earth person.”

Malone returned the compliment to Swift, telling her that while he was “at a loss for words,” she is “one of the kindest, most talented people I have ever met.”

Megan Thee Stallion pays tribute to Britney Spears' iconic VMA outfit

Although Megan Thee Stallion wore a variety of outfits during her evening as host, one outfit was particularly notable as it was a tribute to one of Britney Spears' iconic “I'm a Slave 4 U” performances at the 2001 VMAs. Megan mimicked the look perfectly, complete with a green bra top and a yellow live Snake – although she was decidedly less than enthusiastic about her encounter with the snake and, in the middle of her performance, demanded that it be removed.

Megan wasn't the only one to honor Spears in style: Tate McRae's Roberto Cavalli gown over Fleur du Mal underwear was reminiscent of the navy blue minidress Spears wore on the red carpet in 2001…

Sabrina Carpenter references Britney Spears in her medley and kisses an alien

…and Sabrina Carpenter's medley performance not only featured an out-of-this-world set, complete with astronauts and an alien, but during her transition from “Please Please Please” to “Taste,” the spoken interlude from Spears' “Oops!…I Did It Again” played in the background.

And as if that wasn't enough to get fans excited, Carpenter also gave the alien a smack before launching into “Espresso.”

Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry kiss before their video Vanguard speech

When Katy Perry took the stage to appear as the recipient of this year's Video Vanguard Award, she was introduced to the audience by a very special person.

“You fell in love with her as Katy Perry. I fell in love with her as Katheryn Hudson,” Perry's longtime partner Orlando Bloom began his speech.

“You know her as a global superstar who brings love, light and her unique sense of humor to every song she writes and every music video she creates,” he continued. “I know her as a mother, a partner who brings that same love and joy to our family.”

After Bloom's sweet introduction, Perry performed a medley of her greatest hits. At the end, she was greeted by Bloom, given a kiss and her brand new trophy.

Chappell Roan creates a fireworks display on stage during his debut appearance at the awards ceremony

In her highly anticipated awards debut, Chappell Roan did not disappoint. On the red carpet, she played up the medieval theme of her performance with a cape, sword, and accompanying knight. Then, introduced by one of her drag queen idols, Sasha Colby, the “Hot to Go!” singer began shooting a flaming crossbow at the castle set. Wearing a suit of armor, Roan gave a vocally impressive performance of her song “Good Luck, Babe!” while dancing with sword-wielding knights.

When she finished the song kneeling in front of the stage, the audience in the UBS Arena erupted in cheers.

Halsey rocks in a garage

After walking the red carpet in the same Versace dress Elizabeth Hurley wore to the 1996 VMAs, Halsey continued the retro theme with a 2000s-inspired performance of her latest single, “Ego.” The singer-songwriter rocked out with her electric guitar in a garage set with her band, which included Måneskin bassist Victoria De Angelis. Wearing a sleeveless collared shirt and black tie with cut-off jeans and Converse, she took the crowd back to the pop-rock heyday of the early 2000s.

Chappell Roan gives a heartfelt acceptance speech for the award for best new artist

Roan won her first Moon Person trophy with a win in the Best New Artist category against Gracie Abrams and Tyla. Accepting the statuette in her third look of the night, a chainmail dress, Roan began her speech by saluting MTV, her record label, friends and family. She then thanked drag artists, queer and trans people who “power pop,” and gay people who “dedicate my songs to someone they love—or hate.”

“Thank you to the people who are fans, who listen to me, who listen to me share my joys and my fears,” continued the singer, who recently expressed her fears of fame.

She concluded, “And to all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now: I see you. I understand you, because I am one of you. And don't let anyone tell you that you can't be exactly who you want to be.”

LL Cool J plays a nostalgic medley of hip-hop hits

2024 not only marks the 40th anniversary of the VMAs, but also four decades since the founding of Def Jam Recordings. As an early member of the label, it was only fitting that LL Cool J performed to celebrate the milestone. Along with Flavor Flav and Chuck D of Public Enemy, the rapper and actor performed a medley of hits like “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “Bring the Noise.”

Taylor Swift pays tribute to her boyfriend Travis Kelce in her acceptance speech

Fans were overjoyed when Taylor Swift mentioned her boyfriend Travis Kelce in her acceptance speech for the Video of the Year award she won for “Fortnight.”

“The thing is that this video – it seems very sad when you watch it, but it was actually the funniest video I've ever made,” she said. “Something I'll never forget is that when I finished a take and said 'cut' and we were done with that take, I would always hear someone cheering from across the studio where we were shooting it, and that one person was my friend Travis.”

“Everything that man touches turns into happiness, fun and magic,” she added of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. “So I want to thank him for bringing that to our shoot because I'll never forget that.”