Taylor Swift experienced an eventful 24 hours filled with elements of patriotism, politics, and personal reflections. Following her Instagram endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the U.S. presidential election in 2024, Swift graced the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) stage on Wednesday night, September 11, delivering memorable performances and moving speeches.
Swift was an unexpected attendee and started the night by receiving the Best Collaboration award for her song “Fortnight” with Post Malone. During her acceptance speech, she acknowledged the significance of the date—September 11. “Waking up this morning in New York on September 11th, I’ve been thinking about what happened 23 years ago, everyone who lost a loved one, and everyone that we lost. That’s the most important thing about today, and everything that happens tonight falls behind that,” Swift stated, linking her music and the historical gravity of the day.
As the night unfolded, Swift won the final grand prize: Video of the Year. Her speech was a thoughtful combination of professional appreciation and personal acknowledgment. For the first time in public, she expressed her gratitude to her boyfriend, NFL player Travis Kelce, for his support during the creation of the “Fortnight” music video. “That one person was my boyfriend, Travis. Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic, so I want to thank him for adding that to our shoot, because I will always remember that,” Swift revealed.
Although many expected Swift to elaborate on her political endorsement of Harris, she made no direct reference to the vice president during the VMAs. Nevertheless, she managed to incorporate a subtle political appeal. “Please register to vote for something else very important that’s coming up, the presidential election,” Swift urged her audience, integrating entertainment and civic responsibility in one of the year’s most significant cultural events.
The show began with a patriotic tone thanks to host Megan Thee Stallion, who wore a glittery red, white, and blue leotard symbolizing American pride. She humorously suggested she borrowed the outfit from Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles. The American theme was consistently present throughout the night as Flavor Flav and Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles presented the first award. Flav, true to his unique style, gifted Chiles with a clock necklace, paying homage both to his signature look and her accomplishments in sports.
The award show succeeded in striking a balance between celebrating the entertainment industry and highlighting political involvement. Swift’s muted push for voter registration added a layer of depth to an evening otherwise filled with artistic recognition.
Swift’s endorsement of Harris had already directed over 337,000 visitors to voter registration websites, with her VMA speech further extending this message in a non-partisan manner. Her exit from the stage with numerous awards affirmed her influence extending beyond the realm of music, also touching upon the political sphere.
Swift’s capacity to straddle personal and political domains with grace has established her as a cultural powerhouse, particularly in moments such as these. While the VMAs bestowed multiple honors on her, it’s her ongoing advocacy for matters like voting that solidify her status as more than a music icon.
