Photo: (Alexis Tirado)
This year's Video Music Awards had everything, so we'll forgive you if you haven't quite recovered yet. We saw Miley Cyrus twerking with Robin Thicke, some BFF love from Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez, and an *NSYNC reunion that topped anything we could have imagined.
While your heart rate is returning back to normal, we'll catch you up on all the reasons why this was the best VMAs yet. Here are the pro-social moments everyone will be talking about tomorrow:
If you weren't an
Austin Mahone fan before the show, you've probably converted by this point. How could you not crush on the singer when he thanked his mom while picking up the Moonman for his Artist to Watch win? In his speech, he gave a special shout out to the most important woman in his life, saying she "raised me as a single mother so I couldn't ask for anyone better." Really, what is better than a guy thanking his mom for helping him get to the VMA stage?
+ Justin Timberlake Honors His Grandparents
Austin Mahone wasn't the only one keeping it in the family tonight. After his epic performance,
Justin Timberlake took the stage to accept the Moonman for Video of the Year. The singer explained that his song, "Mirrors," was inspired by the love his grandparents had for each other. Although his grandfather passed away in December, Justin took a moment to dedicate the award to his grandmother, who he hoped was watching from home. We know, we know - we teared up too.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis definitely felt the love in Brooklyn tonight. The duo snagged the coveted Moonman for the Best Video With A Social Message for their "Same Love" hit. In his acceptance speech, Macklemore got emotional talking about how the hit was "the most important record" out of all the songs he's written. He then went on to deliver the line of the night: "Gay rights are human rights; there is no separation." It was amazing to see the celebs in the audience tear up at Macklemore's proclamation, and we know there were lots of tears around America as well.
Although tonight was really about the nominees and winners, the presenters had their moments in the spotlight as well. In a touching moment, A$AP Rocky and Jason Collins took the stage to introduce Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Same Love" performance.
Collins, as most remember, became the first openly gay male athlete in the NBA. In his introduction, he shared a story about how his grandmother feared that he would face the same "prejudice and bigotry she experienced growing up in the segregated South." He decided to come out, he said, because "the only way things change is when you stand up for what you believe in."
Sharing the stage with Collins was A$AP Rocky, who recently joined the ranks of JayZ, 50 Cent, and Snoop Lion to speak out against homophobia. Although A$AP Rocky admitted he used to be homophobic, he soon realized that "wasn't the way to do things." To see the two of them united on the same stage to introduce the "Same Love" performers was pretty special. Watching Jennifer Hudson and Mary Lambert kill it with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on stage after was just one more example of how this was the best VMAs ever.
What were your favorite pro-social moments from the show? Let us know in the comments or send us a tweet!
