Newark (USA) (AFP)

American pop superstar Taylor Swift lit up the MTV Video Music Awards Monday night by presenting her new album and receiving several awards at a ceremony where rapper Missy Elliott was also honored for the entire career. .

Taylor Swift, buoyed by the success of her latest album "Lover", already the best-selling album of the year in the United States after just two days, received the very prestigious award for Best Clip of the Year for her piece "You Need To Calm Down".

This electro-pop hit has also been awarded the "Most Positive Clip" because of its anti-homophobia message, even though on release - in full Pride Month, the month of gay pride around the world - critics have criticized Taylor Swift for using the LGBTQ community codes for commercial purposes.

"We recalled several things in this clip," she said while receiving her statuette in the shape of an astronaut, one of the first logos of MTV, which organizes and broadcasts the evening.

"We want a world where everyone will be treated in the same way by law," she said.

The 29-year-old singer, wearing a golden bustier and a purple jacket, had won the Prudential Center audience near New York, New Jersey early this evening, playing the pink guitar at the end of the night. two titles of his new album "Lover": the song of the same name and "You Need to Calm Down".

Taylor Swift, the most-nominated artist on Monday night with 10 nominations, is a regular at this annual gala of American music and music videos.

Ten years ago, when she was a promising young artist, rapper Kanye West, who was already a big provocateur of American rap, interrupted her speech of thanks saying she did not deserve the prize. had just been handed over.

"I learned that we never know what can happen in this show," she smiled Monday on the red carpet, since since this unfortunate incident, five albums have made her success one of the biggest stars on the planet.

- Rap in strength -

The other highlight of the evening was the standing ovation to rapper Missy Elliott, who received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for her entire career.

At the dawn of the year 2000 this rapper of the State of Virginia took the world - very macho - of the American rap by surprise by imposing its style and its codes, in close collaboration with its producer Timbaland.

Monday night, his classics had not taken a ride and carried the crowd.

It is the reference rapper of the late 2010s, Cardi B, who gave him this statuette after having been distinguished for the best hip-hop clip.

"I cry at every reward," said Missy Elliott, visibly touched by Cardi B's compliments.

Rapper Lil Nas X, whose hit "Old Town Road" had the United States and the whole world dancing all summer, was awarded the song of the year album award for this rap / country collaboration with Billy Ray Cirus, who did not fail to quote Johnny Cash.

Presence in the state of New Jersey requires, many big names in the rap of this suburb of New York - Redman or Naughty by Nature - have come on stage.

Another nod to New Jersey, three actors in the series of reference of HBO "The Sopranos" gave a prize to the Jonas Brothers.

© 2019 AFP