George Michael fans recoiled in horror at the tribute medley to the late pop star at the MTV Video Music Awards this Sunday night.This Christmas will mark the 10-year anniversary of Michael’s death of heart and liver problems at the age of 53, after a public life buffeted by repeated drug scandals.Teddy Swims, Raye and Sombr were assembled to pay homage to him at Sunday’s ceremony, which was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.Viewers poured scorn on Swims online and called him a ‘mess,’ with one X user going as far as to joke that he had ‘killed George Michael all over again.’However the extravaganza was saved by a surprise appearance from Adam Lambert, who set the audience ablaze with a rendition of Michael’s classic Freedom! ’90.His was the only performance to come in for overwhelming praise on social media, where one X user wrote: ‘The entire tribute should’ve been Adam Lambert.’ George Michael fans recoiled in horror at the tribute performance to the late pop star at the MTV Video Music Awards this Sunday night (from left) Saint Harison, Adam Lambert, MNEK, Raye, Meek, Sombr and Teddy Swims are pictured honoring Michael at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles on SundaySombr, 21, whose Christian name is Shane Boose, was enlisted to cover Michael’s songs Faith and Father Figure, both from his 1987 debut solo album.Meanwhile Raye, 28, aka Rachel Keen, sang I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me), a duet that Michael performed with Aretha Franklin also in 1987.Swims, 34, was entrusted with one of Michael’s best-known numbers, Careless Whisper, released in 1981 when he was in the duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgley.For his barn-burning version of Freedom! ’90, Lambert was backed by singers including Saint Harison, MNEK and Meek, as well as Raye, Swims and Sombr.’Teddy Swims killed George Michael all over again. What a miss. Adam Lambert should have handled the whole damn tribute, though Raye & Sombr acquitted themselves admirably,’ one X user huffed.’I think Teddy Swims connected well with the song’s tale, but his voice couldn’t do some of the highlights George did,’ another said more gently, before adding: ‘Sombr was so bad I’d rather listen to myself sing “Father Figure.””It was awful. Adam saved it. I don’t know who that skinny dude was but he sucked,’ grumbled a third, presumably in reference to Sombr.’Raye is usually much better. Seemed to have some tech problems,’ said another in more charitable vein. ‘Thank goodness for Adam Lambert.’MTV VMAs 2026 winners: AT A GLANCE Artist of the Year: MadonnaBest Collaboration: Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your LoveBest Dance: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)Best Cinematography: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)Best Choreography: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)Best Visual Effects: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film)Best Long Form Video: Madonna – Confessions II (The Film) <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/tvshowbiz/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
The extravaganza was saved by a surprise appearance by Adam Lambert, who set the audience ablaze with a rendition of Michael’s classic Freedom! ’90 Swims, 34, was entrusted with one of Michael’s best-known numbers, Careless Whisper, released in 1981 when he was in the duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgley Meanwhile Raye, 28, aka Rachel Keen, sang I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me), a duet that Michael performed with Aretha Franklin also in 1987 Sombr, 21, whose Christian name is Shane Boose, was enlisted to cover Michael’s songs Faith and Father Figure, both from his 1987 debut solo album Viewers poured scorn on Swims online and called him a ‘mess,’ with one X user going as far as to shriek that he had ‘killed George Michael all over again’Still another struck a note of sympathy, tweeting: ‘It must be very hard to pay tribute to George Michael. There will never be another talent like him. He was one of a kind.’Michael had warm words for Lambert’s singing abilities in 2010, when the latter had just achieved his first dose of stardom as a contestant on American Idol. ‘He’s the guy with the eyeliner and black nails, right? I’ve heard him perform. He certainly seems talented,’ said Michael to People.Having risen to fame nearly three decades before Lambert did, Michael reflected on their differing experiences of being gay in the public eye.’I didn’t come out until after my mother died, as I was sure the papers would attack me and that would hurt her,’ recalled the English pop icon. ‘Adam is out, so he won’t have that problem. I wish him a lot of success.’Four years after the Last Christmas singer died, Lambert remarked that he would be interested in playing Michael in a potential biopic’I’d like to see a George Michael biopic,’ he told Metro. ‘I think that would be very interesting. That’d be cool, I just feel like, we don’t know that much about him. You know, to me, it would be great to kind of explore George’s life.’MTV Video Music Awards 2024 WINNERS VIDEO OF THE YEARAriana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Republic RecordsBillie Eilish – “Lunch” – Darkroom / Interscope RecordsDoja Cat – “Paint The Town Red” – Kemosabe Records / RCA RecordsEminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope RecordsSZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA RecordsTaylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – WINNER Taylor Swift earned seven MTV VMAs to become most decorated solo artist ever The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard AwardKaty Perry – WINNER ARTIST OF THE YEARAriana Grande – Republic RecordsBad Bunny – Rimas EntertainmentEminem – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope RecordsSabrina Carpenter – IslandSZA – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA RecordsTaylor Swift – Republic Records – WINNER SONG OF THE YEARBeyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia RecordsJack Harlow – “Lovin On Me” – Generation Now / Atlantic RecordsKendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope RecordsSabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island – WINNERTaylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic RecordsTeddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner Records Taylor was bested by Sabrina Carpenter in the Song Of The Year category BEST NEW ARTISTBenson Boone – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner RecordsChappell Roan – Island – WINNERGracie Abrams – Interscope RecordsShaboozey – American Dogwood / EMPIRETeddy Swims – Warner RecordsTyla – Epic Records MTV PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEARAugust 2023: Kaliii – “Area Codes” – Atlantic RecordsSeptember 2023: GloRilla – “Lick or Sum” – CMG / Interscope RecordsOctober 2023: Benson Boone – “In the Stars” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner RecordsNovember 2023: Coco Jones – “ICU” – Def JamDecember 2023: Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA RecordsJanuary 2024: Jessie Murph – “Wild Ones” – Columbia RecordsFebruary 2024: Teddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner RecordsMarch 2024: Chappell Roan – “Red Wine Supernova” – IslandApril 2024: Flyana Boss – “Yeaaa” – Vnclm_/ Atlantic RecordsMay 2024: Laufey – “Goddess” – Laufey / AWALJune 2024: Le Sserafim – “Easy” – Source Music / Geffen Records – WINNERJuly 2024: The Warning – “Automatic Sun” – Lava / Republic Records BEST COLLABORATIONDrake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic RecordsGloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be” – CMG / Interscope RecordsJessie Murph ft. Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones” – Columbia RecordsJung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven” – Bighit Music / Geffen RecordsPost Malone ft. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help” – Mercury / Republic / Big LoudTaylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – WINNER BEST POPCamila Cabello – Geffen / Interscope RecordsDua Lipa – Warner RecordsOlivia Rodrigo – Geffen RecordsSabrina Carpenter – IslandTate McRae – RCA RecordsTaylor Swift – Republic Records – WINNER BEST HIP-HOPDrake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic RecordsEminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records – WINNERGloRilla – “Yeah Glo!” – CMG / Interscope RecordsGunna – “Fukumean” – Young Stoner Life Records / 300 EntertainmentMegan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl ProductionsTravis Scott ft. Playboi Carti – “FE!N” – Cactus Jack / Epic Records Eminem earned the Best Hip-Hop Honor for his Houdini music video BEST R&BAlicia Keys – “Lifeline” – AK Records / GammaMuni Long – “Made For Me” – Def JamSZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records – WINNERTyla – “Water” – Fax Records / Epic RecordsUsher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good” – Mega / GammaVictoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA Records BEST ALTERNATIVEBenson Boone – “Beautiful Things” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records – WINNERBleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty HitHozier – “Too Sweet” – Columbia RecordsImagine Dragons – “Eyes Closed” – KIDinaKorner / Interscope RecordsLinkin Park – “Friendly Fire” – This Compilation / Warner RecordsTeddy Swims – “Lose Control (Live)” – Warner Records BEST ROCKBon Jovi – “Legendary” – IslandColdplay – “Feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic RecordsGreen Day – “Dilemma” – Reprise Records / Warner RecordsKings of Leon – “Mustang” – Capitol RecordsLenny Kravitz – “Human” – Roxie Records Inc. / BMG Rights Management – WINNERU2 – “Atomic City” – Interscope Records BEST LATINAnitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment – WINNERBad Bunny – “Monaco” – Rimas EntertainmentKarol G – “Mi Ex Tenia Razon” – Bichota / Interscope RecordsMyke Towers – “Lala” – Warner Music LatinaPeso Pluma & Anitta – “Bellakeo” – Double P RecordsRauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars EntertainmentShakira & Cardi B – “Puntería” – Sony Music US Latin BEST AFROBEATSAyra Starr ft. Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song” – Mavin / RepublicBurna Boy – “City Boys” – Spaceship / Bad Habit / Atlantic RecordsChris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational” – Chris Brown Entertainment / RCA RecordsTems – “Love Me JeJe” – Since ’93 / RCA RecordsTyla – “Water” – Fax Records / Epic Records – WINNERUsher, Pheelz – “Ruin” – mega / gamma. Tyla earned Best Afrobeats for her Water music video BEST K-POPJung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven” – Bighit Music / Geffen RecordsLisa – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records – WINNERNCT Dream – “Smoothie” – SM Entertainment / Virgin Music GroupNewJeans – “Super Shy” – ADOR / Geffen RecordsStray Kids – “Lalalala” – JYP Entertainment / Imperial / Republic RecordsTomorrow X Together – “Deja vu” – Bighit Music / Imperial / Republic Records VIDEO FOR GOODAlexander Stewart – “If Only You Knew” – FAE GrpBillie Eilish – “What Was I Made For (From the Motion Picture “Barbie”)” – Darkroom / Interscope Records – WINNERColdplay – “Feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic RecordsJoyner Lucas & Jelly Roll – “Best for Me” – Twenty Nine Music GroupRAYE – “Genesis” – Human Re SourcesTyler Childers – “In Your Love” – Hickman Holler Records / RCA Records BEST DIRECTIONAriana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Republic Records – Directed by Christian BreslauerBleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit – Directed by Alex Lockett & Margaret QualleyEminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records – Directed by Rich LeeMegan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions – Directed by Daniel Iglesias Jr.Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island – Directed by Bardia ZeinaliTaylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift – WINNER Taylor Swift and Post Malone’s Fortnight took home both Best Direction and Editing BEST CINEMATOGRAPHYAriana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Republic Records – Cinematography by Anatol Trofimov – WINNERCharli XCX – “Von Dutch” – Atlantic Records – Cinematography by Jeff BiermanDua Lipa – “Illusion” – Warner Records – Cinematography by Nikita KuzmenkoOlivia Rodrigo – “Obsessed” – Geffen Records – Cinematography by Marz MillerRauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment – Cinematography by Camilo MonsalveTaylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – Cinematography by Rodrigo PrietoBEST EDITINGAnitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment – Editing by Nick YumulAriana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Republic Records – Editing by Luis Caraza PeimbertEminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records – Editing by David ChecelLisa – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records – Editing by Nik KohlerSabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island – Editing by Jai ShuklaTaylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – Editing by Chancler Haynes – WINNER BEST CHOREOGRAPHYBleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit – Choreography by Margaret QualleyDua Lipa – “Houdini” – Warner Records – Choreography by Charm La’Donna – WINNERLisa – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records – Choreography by Sean BankheadRauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment – Choreography by Felix ‘Fefe’ BurgosTate McRae – “Greedy” – RCA Records – Choreography by Sean BankheadTroye Sivan – “Rush” – Capitol Records – Choreography by Sergio Reis, Mauro Van De Kerkhof Dua Lipa took home Best Choreography for Houdini BEST VISUAL EFFECTSAriana Grande – “The Boy is Mine” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Digital AxisEminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Synapse Virtual – WINNERProduction, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic, Flawless PostJustin Timberlake – “Selfish” – RCA Records – “Selfish” – RCA Records – Visual Effects by Candice DragonasMegan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions – Visual Effects by MathematicOlivia Rodrigo – “Get Him Back!” – Geffen Records – Visual Effects by Cooper Vacheron, PrestonMohr, Karen Arakelian, Justin JohnsonTaylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by ParliamentBEST ART DIRECTIONCharli XCX – “360” – Atlantic Records – Art Direction by Grace SurnowLisa – “Rockstar” – Lloyd Co. / RCA Records – Art Direction by Pongsan ThawatwichianMegan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions – Art Direction by Brittany Porter – WINNEROlivia Rodrigo – “Bad Idea Right?” – Geffen Records – Art Direction by Nicholas des JardinsSabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island – Art Direction by Nicholas des JardinsTaylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – Art Direction by Ethan Tobman BEST TRENDING VIDEOBeyoncé – “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records Camila Cabello ft. Playboi Carti – “I LUV IT” – Geffen / Interscope RecordsChappell Roan – “HOT TO GO!” – Amusement Records / Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.Charli xcx – “Apple” – Atlantic RecordsMegan Thee Stallion ft. Yuki Chiba – “Mamushi” – Hot Girl Productions – WINNERTinashe – “Nasty” – Nice Life Recording Company Host Megan Thee Stallion earned Best Trending Video for Mamushi BEST GROUPNSYNC – RCA RecordsColdplay – Atlantic RecordsImagine Dragons – KIDinaKorner / Interscope RecordsNCT Dream – SM Entertainment / Virgin Music GroupNewJeans – ADOR / Geffen RecordsSEVENTEEN – PLEDIS Entertainment / Geffen Records – WINNERTOMORROW X TOGETHER – BIGHIT MUSIC / IMPERIAL / Republic RecordsTwenty One Pilots – Fueled By Ramen SONG OF THE SUMMER Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic RecordsBenson Boone – “Beautiful Things” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner RecordsBillie Eilish – “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Darkroom / Interscope RecordsChappell Roan – “Good Luck, Babe!” – Amusement Records / Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.Charli XCX & Billie Eilish – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic RecordsEminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope RecordsFuture, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – “Like That” – Wilburn Holding Co. / Boominati / Epic / RepublicGloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be” – CMG / Interscope RecordsHozier – “Too Sweet” – Columbia RecordsKendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope RecordsPost Malone ft. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help” – Mercury / Republic / Big LoudSabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – IslandShaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – American Dogwood / EMPIRESZA – “Saturn” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA RecordsTaylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – WINNERTommy Richman – “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” – ISO Supremacy / PULSE Records / Concord VMAS MOST ICONIC PERFORMANCEBeyoncé – “Love on Top”Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Missy Elliot – “Like a Virgin” & “Hollywood”Eminem – “Real Slim Shady” & “The Way I Am”Katy Perry – “Roar” – WINNERLady Gaga – “Paparazzi”Madonna – “Like a Virgin”Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me” Katy Perry earned VMAs Most Iconic Performance for Roar