By Marie-Louise Gumuchian
(Reuters) – Pop megastar Taylor Swift was the big winner at the MTV Europe Music Awards on Sunday, picking up four trophies at the Manchester ceremony in England, which included a tribute to late singer Liam Payne.
Swift, who had led nominations with seven nods, won best artist, best video for her collaboration with Post Malone “Fortnight”, best live and best U.S. act. Currently in North America for her Eras tour, she thanked fans via a video message.
“The fact that you have honoured the tour, everything that’s happened with the album this year, the video, it’s just unbelievable,” said Swift, who released her latest album “The Tortured Poets Department” in April.
South African singer Tyla followed with three prizes – best Afrobeats, best R&B and best African act.
The awards resumed after last year’s Paris event was cancelled shortly after the outbreak of the Gaza war, in which Israel’s military is fighting Hamas militants.
Held in a different city each year, Sunday’s show took place at Manchester’s new Co-Op Live venue.
Singer and third time MTV EMAs show host Rita Ora led a tribute to late One Direction member Liam Payne, who died last month after falling from a third-floor hotel room balcony in Buenos Aires. He was 31.
“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,” a visibly emotional Ora, who collaborated with Payne for 2018 song “For You”, said.
“He brought so much joy to every room he walked into and he left such a mark on this world.”
Other winners on Sunday night included Sabrina Carpenter, whose hit “Espresso” won best song, Ariana Grande who took the best pop award and Eminem who triumphed in the best hip-hop category.
Best K-pop went to Jimin, Mexican singer Peso Pluma won best latin while Manchester native Liam Gallagher took best rock. U.S. singer Benson Boone won best new category.
Other honourees included U.S. rapper Busta Rhymes, who performed a medley of his hits and received the global icon award and pop pioneer award recipients British electro-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, who closed the show.
(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; editing by Diane Craft)
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