Next month’s MTV Europe Music Awards have been canceled due to the “volatility of world events,” organizers announced Thursday.
The awards ceremony was set to take place in Paris on November 5 but organizers said this “does not feel like a moment for a global celebration,” citing the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
“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,” MTV announced in a statement.
Among the nominees were Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj. “Blank Space” singer Swift has received the most nominations, competing in seven different categories, but she’ll now be saying “Bye bye baby” to the glitzy awards evening.
“The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration of global music,” MTV said. “As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning.”
The last time the MTV EMAs were held in Paris was 1995. France has been on high alert since Hamas attacked Israel earlier this month. Several airports, Versailles Palace, and the Louvre Museum have all been evacuated due to bomb threats in the past week, and last week a French teacher was killed in Arras in what authorities believe was a terrorist attack.
