The Weeknd Brought His Bandaged-Up Face To The American Music Awards
Not since Garth Brooks’ turn as Chris Gaines has an artist committed so hard to the type of character that makes us ask, “You’re still doing this?” And last night, the American Music Awards were gracious enough to give The Weeknd another reason to pull out the gauze and the 3M tape and get into character.
The Weeknd’s bruised and bandaged face covered in dried blood, as well as the red suit and black driving gloves, have been a thing for his latest album, After Hours. I know The Weeknd is trying to give us a dark, mysterious, and violent aesthetic here. But the second I remember his dating history includes former Disney channel star Selena Gomez, and that he once reportedly fought with Drake over Bella Hadid, it feels a little less dangerous. Plus, all that nose tape and chin support feels more like if the Kardashians produced a reboot of the movie Drive, and called it Drive…To Dr. Miami’s Office. All that character work for After Hours paid off because The Weeknd won a whole bunch of American Music Awards for his album. The Weeknd took home the AMA for Favorite Male Artist Soul/R&B, Favorite Song – Soul/R&B (for “Heartless“), and here he is accepting the award for Favorite Soul of R&B Album, in which he dedicated the award to Prince.
Along with The Weeknd, another big 3-award winner was Taylor Swift, who took home the AMA for Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock, Favorite Music Video (for the handmade sweatercore fantasy “Cardigan“), and Artist of the Year. Taylor explained why she wasn’t there in person to accept her award, and she probably could have just said, “Because a pandemic is still literally happening?” and we all would have accepted that answer. But she says it’s because she’s re-recording all her old songs since the masters were bought (and sold) by Scooter Braun. via Us Weekly:
“Thank you so much for this. This is a fan-voted award, which means so much to me. You guys have been beyond wonderful all the years of my career but especially this one when we’ve been so far apart. We haven’t been able to see each other in concert, but I still feel really connected to you through the music, your reaction to Folklore and all the ways in which your imagination honored that album…The reason I’m not there tonight is I’m actually rerecording all of my old music in the studio where we originally recorded it. It’s been amazing, and I can’t wait for you to hear it.”
Hmmm…not as obvious as last year’s implied dragging of Scooter, but I’ll take it.
And while she didn’t walk away with as many awards, Cardi B did have a notable night when she won the AMA for Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop. Cardi won for “WAP.” E! News notes that Cardi B is now the first artist in AMA history to have won Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop two times. She previously won in 2018 for “Bodak Yellow.” She also wasn’t there to accept her award in person, due to a dentist appointment that got in the way, but she delivered a thank you speech on Twitter. And it should be pointed out that she technically made history twice last night. Once for getting her second Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Song award, and for having the first American Music Award presented for a song about a certified 7-day freak with the type of wet-ass pussy that leaves a pull-out game weak.
Thank you guys soooo much .Me and Meg really appreciate all the love from fans ,celebs everybody that supported the song .Also thanks for voting .Ugh if I would have known all this was going down today I would of rescheduled my dentist https://t.co/xIkG1eOunD so swollen 😩😂 pic.twitter.com/bUCEHtedcd
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) November 23, 2020
Here are all the winners from last night’s ceremony:
Artist of the Year
Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year
Doja Cat
Favorite Music Video
Taylor Swift, “Cardigan”
Collaboration of the Year
Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours”
Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock
Justin Bieber
Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock
Taylor Swift
Favorite Male Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop
Juice Wrld
Favorite Female Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop
Nicki Minaj
Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B
The Weeknd
Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B
Doja Cat
Favorite Male Artist – Country
Kane Brown
Favorite Female Artist – Country
Maren Morris
Favorite Male Artist – Latin
Bad Bunny
Favorite Female Artist – Latin
Becky G
Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock
Twenty One Pilots
Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary
Jonas Brothers
Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music
Lady Gaga
Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational
Lauren Daigle
Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock
BTS
Favorite Duo or Group – Country
Dan + Shay
Favorite Song – Pop/Rock
Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now”
Favorite Album – Pop/Rock
Harry Styles, Fine Line
Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”
Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop
Roddy Ricch, Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial
Favorite Song – Country
Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours”
Favorite Album – Country
Blake Shelton, Fully Loaded: God’s Country
Favorite Song – Soul/R&B
The Weeknd, “Heartless”
Favorite Album – Soul/R&B
The Weeknd, After Hours
Favorite Song – Latin
Karol G and Nicki Minaj, “Tusa”
Favorite Album – Latin
Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG
Favorite Soundtrack
Birds of Prey: The Album
Favorite Social Artist
BTS
Pic: YouTube