The VMAs lost its relevance as this year's show was defined by who wasn't there

The Ringer

“The superstar A-list has finally, definitively abandoned the MTV Video Music Awards,” says Rob Harvilla, noting the absence of big names like Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Drake and Rihanna. “The supply,” he adds, “of brand-name artists who need the VMAs at all is dwindling every day.” As a result, he says, “the 2017 VMAs scrambled to fill that fearsome power vacuum, clinging to its few genuine A-listers for dear life… And presiding over it all was poor, poor, poor Katy Perry, flexing those cringe-comedy muscles as she fired off wan gags about fidget spinners, The Handmaid’s Tale, Frye Festival, Hillary Clinton, and the plain fact that half this show’s target audience was watching Game of Thrones instead.” PLUS: VMAs downplaying of hip-hop is why it’s become irrelevant, VMAs benefited from being politically muted, why was the ceremony so sleepy?, transgender service members attended the VMAs, Katy Perry was mocked for her terrible monologue, “Moonman” renamed “Moon Person,” one of the most anti-Trump moments occurred during the commercial break, Adam Levine slammed “utterly horrible” VMAs on Twitter, and MTV used Heather Heyer’s mom to communicate its heart and soul.