Taylor Swift honors 9/11 victims, praises Post Malone in MTV VMAs speech

Taylor Swift made sure to honor some special people during her acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) 2024.

The singer accepted the award for Best Collaboration for “Fortnight,” her single with Post Malone.

Taylor opened her speech by honoring the victims of the September 11 or 9/11 attacks.

“I wanted to say, you know, waking up this morning in New York on September 11th, I've just been thinking about what happened 23 years ago—everyone who lost a loved one and everyone that we lost, and that is the most important thing about today, and everything that happens tonight falls behind that,” she said.

Following this, Taylor made sure to thank and honor those who worked with her on the “Fortnight” music video, most especially her collaborator, Post Malone.

“There is a very clear reason why Post Malone is everyone in music's favorite person to collaborate with. And it is because you are so ridiculously talented, you are so versatile, and you're the most down-to-earth person,” she said.

“Honestly, so unfailingly polite. It has taken me forever to get him to stop calling me ma'am,” Taylor added.

She then called on Post Malone to give his speech, who said that he was “at an absolute loss for words.”

The rapper added that Taylor is “absolutely one of the most kind and talented people I've ever had the honor of knowing.”

“And just the amount of work and care and love that she puts into everything she does,” Post Malone said.

He also said that he watched Taylor tied to the operating table in the video while directing “and it was pretty badass.”

“I just wanted to say thank you so very much for listening. And thank you so very much Taylor, and I love you very much,” Post Malone said.

Aside from Best Collaboration, Taylor has also won Artist of the Year and Best Pop at the VMAs. "Fortnight," on the other hand, also took home the Video of the Year, Song of Summer, and Best Editing awards.

The MTV VMAs is currently ongoing at the UBS Arena in New York.

“Fortnight” is part of Taylor’s latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department” which was released in April. It is what Taylor calls “an anthology of new works that reflect events, opinions and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time - one that was both sensational and sorrowful in equal measure.”

Two hours after the release of “TTPD,” Taylor released its second part with 15 new songs, titled “The Anthology.”

Taylor is currently embarking on The Eras Tour, which is in support of her 2022 album, “Midnights.” The shows are a celebration of girlhood and relatable stories through music.

DREAM TEAM ALERT!????Congrats to @taylorswift13 and @PostMalone on winning the #VMA for Best Collaboration ???? pic.twitter.com/jdZbSW02y1

— Video Music Awards (@vmas) September 12, 2024

— Nika Roque/CDC, GMA Integrated News