DUBAI: Sunday’s MTV Movie and TV Awards were marked by passionate speeches, a rare spell of stormy weather and sober fashion choices.
Wet weather in Los Angeles shut down the red carpet before the awards show, but inside, host Adam Devine literally set the stage on fire as he kicked off MTV’s first awards celebrating both television and films.
Streaming platform Netflix enjoyed the night’s biggest spotlight when its 1980s sci-fi series “Stranger Things” won the inaugural Show of the Year award.
“Thank you to Netflix, where would we be without Netflix? Like literally, when you’re having a bad day, what do you do when you go home?,” “Stranger Things” star Caleb McLaughlin said on stage, as the audience shouted back “Watch Netflix.”
Disney’s live-action fairytale “Beauty and the Beast” won Best Movie and director Bill Condon thanked the female audience, saying “women have proven that they are huge and powerful audience and it’s going to change the movie business.”
MTV did away with gender-specific acting categories this year for its fan-voted awards, where “Beauty and the Beast” star Emma Watson won best actor in a movie and “Stranger Things” newcomer Millie Bobby Brown, 13, won best actor in a show.
“Acting is about the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and that doesn’t need to be separated into two different categories,” Watson said on stage.
MTV’s annual fan-voted, youth-orientated awards show is known for its irreverent moments, explicit jokes and unconventional award categories.
But this year’s show saw presenters and winners get passionate about issues on stage.
US Representative Maxine Waters presented the award for Best Fight Against the System and said each of the nominees “pushes back against the bullies and uses their platform to inspire us all.” The award went to “Hidden Figures,” the story of three black female NASA mathematicians.
“Logan” stars Hugh Jackman and newcomer Dafne Keen won Best Duo, “Get Out” star Daniel Kaluuya won the Next Generation award, while NBC family drama “This is Us” won Best Tearjerker.
Fashion
Celebrity style was a rather more sober affair, with highlights including actress Taraji P. Henson in a gold sequined gown and Emma Watson in a black and silver ensemble.
Adult star Farah Abraham caused a stir on social media by wearing an Indian outfit, despite not having any Indian roots.
Imagine wearing something that's apart of someone else's culture just for attention. She looks so bad and desperate. #MTVAwards pic.twitter.com/3M8xIpVyUV
— baby boy (@darkwavebaby) May 7, 2017
Abraham was accused of cultural appropriation by angry Twitter users but did not seem to be concerned, telling TooFab online magazine that her outfit made her feel “freaking amazing, Bollywood and sexy.”
(With Reuters)