The Weeknd VMAs
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 30: The Weeknd performs at Edge at Hudson Yards for the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, broadcast on Sunday, August 30, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur / MTV VMAs 2020 / Getty Images for MTV)

Words: Chloe Watts

This year the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards is taking social distancing seriously with The Weeknd opening the ceremony atop a building in Manhattan, 1,000 feet to be exact. With nothing but the New York City skyline and two helicopters to keep the superstar company, the ‘Starboy’ singer treated a virtual audience to a performance of his hit song, ‘Blinding Lights’, which is up for six nominations tonight including Video of the Year, Best RnB (spoiler: he won) and Song of the Year.

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In a year where everyone has been forced to adapt to a new way of living and working, artists and awards shows are taking things to levels we may not have not otherwise been able to see (in this case, literally) if awards shows were following in their traditional format. Just when we thought things couldnโ€™t get any more wild, fireworks lit up the Hudson River and treated New York locals to a special light show during what has been a difficult year.

The artist took the red carpet earlier in the evening donned in the same red suit look, bloodied and bruised as is signature in his latest album.

Of course Twitter had something to say about the mammoth opening performance, and the fans are raving about it. We rounded up a few below.

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