Gaga and Bieber swept to victory at the MTV European Music Awards collecting two prizes each in a ceremony that paid tribute to late musician Prince.
Canadian artists dominated the 2016 MTV EMAs, which saw big wins for Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Drake and The Weeknd.
“Thank you so much,” said Mendes, collecting the award for best male from model Jourdan Dunne at Rotterdam’s Ahoy arena and dedicating it to his “incredible fans worldwide.”
Bieber, who carried away the most awards at the MTV EMAs last year with five awards, won Best Song this time around for his smash “Sorry,” and Best Canadian Act, as well as Biggest Fans, which was voted online via Twitter and Instagram that closed shortly before the show started.
Bieber was one of the many winners on the night who did not attend the show.
Just two days ahead of the U.S. presidential election, veteran punk rockers Green Day closed the raucous show with their anti-establishment anthem “American Idiot.”
“It is nice to be out of America just for a second because of this horrendous election that is going on right now,” lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong said.
The band was honored with the MTV Global Icon Award, but lost out to Twenty One Pilots in the Best Live category and to Coldplay in Best Rock. Twenty One Pilots also won the Best Alternative category.
Lady Gaga, also among the absentees, won Best Female and Best Look. The awards were colored purple this year to honor the late Prince.
“Prince, we will always miss you,” presenter Bebe Rexha said early in the show as purple spotlights crisscrossed the Ahoy arena in Rotterdam.
Beyonce was tied with Bieber for the most nominations – five – leading into the awards show, but was shut out. Queen Bey was in good company; Britain’s Adele was up for four awards, including Best Song for her single “Hello,” but also failed to pick up a single prize.
Another Canadian took Best Video, with The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk winning for “Starboy.”
Here is the full list of the winners at the MTV European Music Awards.
- Best song Justin Bieber – Sorry
- Best female – Lady Gaga
- Best male – Shawn Mendes
- Best video – The Weeknd ft Daft Punk – Starboy
- Best live act – Twenty One Pilots
- Best new act – Zara Larsson
- Best pop act – Fifth Harmony
- Best rock act – Coldplay
- Best UK and Ireland act – Little Mix
- Best push – DNCE
- Best look – Lady Gaga
- Best world stage – Martin Garrix
- Best electronic – Martin Garrix
- Best hip hop Act – Drake
- Best fans – Justin Bieber
- Global icon – Green Day
by 