Missy Elliott became the first female rapper to win the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards 2019. The award recognises the work of music performers who have created acclaimed music videos aired by the network, and though it is not given out annually, the honour is treated like a lifetime achievement award.
The artist put up a spectacular performance before she was felicitated — she brought back dancer Alyson Stoner (remember her as the lead kid dancer from the Work It video 16 years ago?) for a quick yet jaw-dropping stint, she brought a huge UFO above the stage and had dancers fly into it, and she literally made it rain. Footage of everyone from Taylor Swift to Pharell Williams losing control when she dropped Get Ur Freak On flooded the internet. The performance ended with the audience chanting her name for an encore.
Accepting the honour, she thanked a list of friends, family, role models and everyone who has helped her get to where she is now. But most importantly, she dedicated the award to dance communities all around the world. “When y’all get on the stage with these artists, y’all are not just props. Y’all are the icing on the cake. Y’all are the beat to the heart,” she said.
Various Hollywood personalities took to social media to share their love for the artist.
Ellen DeGeneres posted on Twitter, “@MissyElliott, you are a legend. You worked it and it was absolutely worth it”, while Louis Virtel tweeted, “Missy Elliott remains the millennial Dolly Parton: prolific, completely true to herself, and life-affirming whenever she performs or speaks.”
Sharing a clip of Alyson’s performance, Fergie posted, “this made me so happy, @missyelliott you have been such an inspiration to me and you are the GOAT!!” (Greatest Of All Time).
Pharell Williams shared, “The QUEEN @MissyElliott VIRGINIA! You set so many minds free and have changed the world in the process. There can never be another YOU so we celebrate your continuous lifting of the creative bar. Continued blessings and favor.”
While most people used terms like ‘epic’, ‘stunning’, and ‘legend’ to describe her performance, others posted that they couldn’t find the right words to express how wonderstruck they were.
