Katy Perry’s night at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards was more iconic than a cat in a shark costume on a Roomba. The 38-year-old queen of bop till you drop was handed the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, a shiny trophy that basically says, “Congrats, you’re a living legend, go wild!”
Katy strutted onto the stage like she owned the place—which, let’s be real, she practically does—right after her boo Orlando Bloom (yes, that Orlando Bloom) introduced her with enough love and admiration to make even Shakespeare roll his eyes and say, “Tone it down, guys.”
Then, BAM! The lights dimmed, and Katy launched into a performance so extra, NASA is now considering her for their next Mars mission. She belted out bangers like “Dark Horse,” “E.T.,” “California Gurls,” and “Teenage Dream,” with the kind of confidence you only get after realizing you’re responsible for the soundtrack of everyone’s best summer memories. There was even “I Kissed a Girl,” which remains the anthem of every spontaneous, questionable decision ever made, and of course, the heart-thumper “Firework,” which should come with a warning label: May cause feelings of invincibility.
Not one to rest on nostalgia, Katy threw in her latest bop “I’m His He’s Mine” with Doechii, because why not remind everyone she’s still got it? And just when you thought you could catch your breath, she closed out with “Lifetimes,” which will soon be on her new album 143—set to drop Sept. 20th. Mark your calendars and tell your mom.
After dropping jaws and probably a few wigs, Orlando—still glowing with that “I used to be an elf” energy—stepped up to hand Katy the golden Vanguard trophy. And what does she say? Does she give a tearful, heartfelt speech? No, no, no. Katy, being Katy, casually mentioned, “I did all that while on the first day of my period,” which is honestly the most relatable superhero flex of all time.
Then she threw some love at MTV for always sticking by her particular brand of weird, acknowledging that a career like hers is no accident. Nope, it’s a combination of hard work, a killer team, and probably more group chats than anyone should ever have to endure.
Katy then gave a shoutout to her parents (who she admits she doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with, because no one’s immune to the classic family drama), followed by a chef’s kiss to the places that helped launch her career—like MySpace (RIP), Warped Tour (double RIP), and all the other nostalgia-filled corners of the internet where Katy found her voice and her people.
And if that wasn’t enough, she rounded it off by thanking the real MVPs: her fans, the KatyCats (because let’s be honest, they’re probably the reason your mom even knows who Katy Perry is), and the LGBTQ+ community, who she admits she wouldn’t be here without.
Katy Perry: a queen, a legend, and apparently, a human firework who handles fame, performances, and periods like an absolute pro. 👑🎤🎆
The only word to describe @katyperry's #VMAs Video Vanguard Medley is … ICONIC 👏 #KatyVMAVanguard pic.twitter.com/R7ZW2xP8CB
— Video Music Awards (@vmas) September 12, 2024
