Grande, who held hands with rapper Big Sean backstage, kicked off the show with a performance of her EDM hit, “Break Free” in a Beyonce-inspired leotard. The 21-year-old won best pop video for her smash single “Problem,” but lost best female video to Katy Perry, who won for the hit “Dark Horse.”
Perry sported a figure-hugging denim dress and was joined by Riff Raff in a coordinating outfit, mirroring Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears at the 2001 American Music Awards.
The night featured a serious social message along with the performances. Rapper-actor Common held a moment of silence for Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old who was fatally shot by a police officer on Aug. 9, before he presented the award for best hip-hop video.
“Hip-hop has always been about truth and has been a powerful instrument of social change, from Melle Mel to Public Enemy to Kendrick Lamar,” Common said. “Hip-hop has always been presented a voice for the revolution.”
Later, a 15-second spot aired alluding to the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, urging viewers to take action to eliminate bias.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced,” a quote by author James Baldwin read on the screen.
Lorde won best rock video for “Royals” and Ed Sheeran won best male video, beating out Pharrell, Eminem, John Legend and Sam Smith, who was a show highlight with his smoldering performance of his hit “Stay With Me.”
Iggy Azalea and Ora appeared onstage as spider women when they performed their hit “Black Widow,” as Swift, Lorde and Charli XCX danced and sang along.
AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
(Photo: Associated Press)
