MTV awards gets cancelled over Israel-Gaza conflict

20th October, 2023

The MTV Europe Music Awards were canceled due to the “serious events happening in Israel and Gaza.”

The organizers, Paramount, explained to BBC Newsbeat that they decided to do this as a precautionary measure.

“Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward,” a statement said.

The show was originally planned for November 5th in Paris and was set to feature performances by Jung Kook from BTS and former Little Mix member Leigh-Anne.

Nominees for the best artist category included Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Taylor Swift, and Nicki Minaj.

Paramount, the organizer, typically calls the MTV EMAs a yearly event celebrating worldwide music. However, they explained that given the ongoing events in Israel and Gaza, this doesn’t seem like the right time for a global celebration.

“With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning.

“Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life.”

The conflict saw a significant increase in tensions on October 7th. In an unprecedented move, Hamas, which is considered a terrorist group by several countries including the United States and the UK, launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the loss of 1,400 lives and over 200 people being held hostage.

Following Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes, Palestinian health officials have reported the deaths of at least 3,700 people in Gaza.

Paramount has decided to reschedule its show, now planned for November 2024.

The MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) have been taking place since 1994, beginning in Berlin, Germany.