The upcoming MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) scheduled for next month in Paris have been canceled, as announced by the organizers on Thursday. The reason for the cancellation, according to the organizers, is attributed to the “uncertainty of global events” amid the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. The awards ceremony was originally set to take place on November 5th at Paris Nord Villepinte and was expected to feature prominent artists like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Bad Bunny, and the Foo Fighters among the nominees.
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In their official statement, a spokesperson for the event mentioned, “Given the unpredictability of global events, we have decided not to proceed with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of concern for the well-being of the thousands of individuals involved, including employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from various parts of the world to make the event happen.” The spokesperson also explained, “The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration of global music. In light of the ongoing tragic events in Israel and Gaza, this doesn’t seem like an appropriate time for a worldwide celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning. We anticipate hosting the MTV EMAs again in November 2024.”
The recent cancellation of the event is connected to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, where Israel has responded to a significant attack by vowing to eliminate Hamas. This has resulted in a total siege of the entire Gaza Strip, affecting its 2.3 million inhabitants and leading to airstrikes that have caused numerous casualties and left more than a million people without homes.
The MTV Europe Music Awards are typically hosted in different cities each year, with the previous year’s event held in Duesseldorf, western Germany.