This year’s MTV has made history by nominating women only in one of their top categories, and somehow has found themselves at the centre of the debate.
For the first time since the artist of the year category was introduced in 2017, all the nominees are women with , Doja Cat, Beyonce, Shakira, Nicki Minaj and Karol G in the running for the gong.
However, history has also been made with the VMAs’ video of the year category which also features no male artists.
with her video for Flowers, Nicki Minaj for Super Freaky Girl, Olivia Rodrigo’s Vampire, Taylor Swift’s Anti-Hero and Sza’s Kill Bill, while Sam Smith and Kim Petras have received a nod for Unholy.
since 2019, therefore, making the category male-free.
Following the nominations announcement on Tuesday, some have criticised the awards for omitting men from two of its top categories while others have struggled to and wrongfully labelled Sam a man.
In one example, a baffled Twitter user asked: ‘So if Sam Smith wins, did a male or female win the award?’
One also misgendered the Stay With Me hitmaker and added: ‘Let’s not allow modern “feminists” to overrule and discredit the talents of male artists in the name of “equality”,’ while many other derogatory comments have been made on social media.
However, others used the debate as an opportunity to school the critics, with one stating: ‘Sam Smith is a non-binary person. Periodddt.’
Another pointed out: ‘While we’re on the topic of the VMAs, people are flipping out about Sam Smith as per usual, but everyone always forgets that Miley Cyrus has publicly identified as gender fluid for the better part of the last decade.’
They were referring to Miley, 30, having previously described herself as ‘gender-fluid’ and ‘equal’ while using she/her pronouns.
This year’s VMAs see Shake It Off hitmaker Taylor, 33, receive the most nominations with eight to her name followed by Sza with six and the likes of Kim Petras, Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj with four each.
The awards will be held on September 12 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey but a host has not been announced.
Sam Smith’s reps declined to comment when approached by Metro.co.uk.
MTV VMAs 2023 nominations
Song of the Year
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Rema & Selena Gomez – Calm Down
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
Steve Lacy – Bad Habit
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Video of the year
Doja Cat – Attention
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Nicki Minaj – Super Freaky Girl
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Artist of the year
Beyoncé
Doja Cat
Karol G
Nicki Minaj
Shakira
Taylor Swift
Song of the year
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Rema & Selena Gomez – Calm Down
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
Steve Lacy – Bad Habit
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best new artist
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Kaliii
Peso Pluma
PinkPantheress
Reneé Rapp
Best collaboration
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – I’m Good (Blue)
Post Malone & Doja Cat – I Like You (A Happier Song)
Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – Gotta Move On
KAROL G & Shakira – TQG
Metro Boomin ft. The Weeknd, 21 Savage, Diddy – Creepin’ (Remix)
Rema & Selena Gomez – Calm Down
Best pop
Demi Lovato – Swine
Dua Lipa – Dance the Night
Ed Sheeran – Eyes Closed
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
P!NK – Trustfall
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best hip-hop
Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – Gotta Move On
DJ Khaled ft. Drake & Lil Baby – STAYING ALIVE
GloRilla & Cardi B – Tomorrow 2
Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock
Lil Wayne ft. Swizz Beatz & DMX – Kant Nobody
Metro Boomin ft. Future – Superhero (Heroes and Villains)
Nicki Minaj – Super Freaky Girl
Best rock
Foo Fighters – The Teacher
Linkin Park – Lost (Original Version)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Tippa My Tongue
Måneskin – The Loneliest
Metallica – Lux Æterna
Muse – You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween
Best alternative
Blink-182 – Edging
Boygenius – The Film
Fall Out Boy – Hold Me Like a Grudge
Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – Candy Necklace
Paramore – This Is Why
Thirty Seconds To Mars – Stuck
Best R&B
Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye – Stay
Chlöe ft. Chris Brown – How Does It Feel
Metro Boomin ft. The Weeknd, 21 Savage, Diddy – Creepin’ (Remix)
SZA – Shirt
Toosii – Favorite Song
Yung Bleu & Nicki Minaj – Love In The Way
Video for good
Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You (Orchestral)
Bad Bunny – El Apagón Aquí Vive Gente
Demi Lovato – Swine
Dove Cameron – Breakfast
Imagine Dragons – Crushed
Maluma – La Reina
Best cinematography
Adele – I Drink Wine
Ed Sheeran – Eyes Closed
Janelle Monae – Lipstick Lover
Kendrick Lamar – Count Me Out
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best direction
Doja Cat – Attention
Drake – Falling Back
Kendrick Lamar – Count Me Out
Megan Thee Stallion – Her
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best art direction
Boygenius – The Film
Blackpink – Pink Venom
Doja Cat – Attention
Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – Candy Necklace
Megan Thee Stallion – Her
SZA – Shirt
Best visual effects
Fall Out Boy – Love From the Other Side
Harry Styles – Music for a Sushi Restaurant
Melanie Martinez – Void
Nicki Minaj – Super Freaky Girl
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best choreography
Blackpink – Pink Venom
Dua Lipa – Dance the Night
Jonas Brothers – Waffle House
Megan Thee Stallion – Her
Panic! at the Disco – Middle of a Breakup
Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
Best editing
Blackpink – Pink Venom
Kendrick Lamar – Rich Spirit
Miley Cyrus – River
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
SZA – Kill Bill
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
