Taylor Swift seemed to have felt seen by Katy Perry in her acceptance speech at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, and made it known by giving her the largest round of applause.
Swift, who won seven awards at the event on Wednesday, September 11, including Video of the Year and Artist of the Year, gave Perry a standing ovation as Perry accepted the Video Vanguard Award.
During her speech, Perry, 39, expressed gratitude to the LGBTQIA+ community and noted, “You showed me that you can be both kind and c**t,” which prompted enthusiastic applause from the audience – especially Swift. The 34-year-old was seen nodding and sharing a knowing smile with her close friend and collaborator, Jack Antonoff, in a video posted to Bustle‘s Instagram, seemingly agreeing with the statement.
Katy Perry accepts the MTV Video Vanguard award on stage during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York. Taylor Swift looked like she felt seen by Perry during a remark she made in her acceptance speech.
Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for MTV
Fans loved seeing this exchange between the pop star and her friend, and were quick to leave their comments on the video. “Hilarious!,” said one fan, while another commented three clapping emojis. A third explained, “C**T is a reclaimed term in the LGBTQ+ community which means GIRLBOSS STATUS. Please let go of the TS vs KP drama. They are good friends ✨,” addressing the fans that appeared to be stirring the pot between the two singers.
Perry’s performance included a medley of her top hits and also previewed tracks from her upcoming album, 143. In her acceptance speech, the “Dark Horse” singer thanked MTV for supporting her career and helping artists extend their influence beyond their music. “There are so many things that have to align to have a successful career as an artist. There are no decade-long accidents,” she noted.
The 14-time Grammy winner was spotted dancing during Perry’s set, shaking it off to hits like “Teenage Dream” and “E.T.” The two artists have a complex history, including a public feud that started in 2014 over backup dancers. Their conflict included diss tracks and social media exchanges but was resolved by 2019, with Perry making a notable appearance in Swift’s “You Need to Calm Down” music video. They also share an ex-boyfriend – John Mayer.
