MTV has announced that Missy Elliott will be performing at the 2019 VMAs, where she will also receive the 2019 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. There had been talk that the award’s name would be changed, especially in the light of the Leaving Neverland bombshells earlier this year, but, no.
Although it is still called the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, MTV seems to want to have it both ways by simply referring to it as the Video Vanguard Award in its video teaser for the VMAs. Whatever guys.
The VMAs will air on MTV at 8 p.m. on Aug. 26 and will be hosted by comedian, actor and author Sebastian Maniscalco.
Meanwhile: Michael Jackson accuser Wade Robson (above) shares his thoughts on MTV choosing to keep his alleged abuser’s name on their award. He said:
“I don’t personally need MTV to do one thing or the other, but as child abuse survivors all over the world watch to see whether society will support them or not if they have the courage to come forward, in that regard, it’s an unfortunate choice.”
Furthermore: ONTD digs up J. Randy Taraborrelli ‘s 1991 book Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness, and finds a quote discussing how the award was invented to placate Jackson due to his jealousy of Madonna being named “Artist of the Decade” by multiple publications in 1989. From the book:
(via Variety; photos Avalon)
