Fans have been reacting to Shaun Ryder and Bez’s cameo during the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards, with some describing it as one of the highlights of the night.
The 30th anniversary of the ceremony was held at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester last night (November 10) and hosted by Rita Ora for a record-breaking third time.
While it featured live performances from Benson Boone, RAYE, Shawn Mendes, Teddy Swims, The Warning, LE SSERAFIM, Peso Pluma, Tyla, Busta Rhymes and Pet Shop Boys, it was an appearance from the Happy Monday stars that got fans talking on social media.
During one segment, Ora went to speak to both Ryder and Bez, who were in the audience, and introduce them to viewers as “Manchester royalty”. Soon afterwards, Bez went on to take hold of the microphone and address the crowd.
“Rita, let me tell you how lovely you are. You make everyone so welcome, you are a special lady,” he said, while the host burst into laughter. “Rita Ora, everyone. make some noise!”
Bez also held the microphone while Ora introduced him to one of the night’s winners, Benson Boone, and the Happy Mondays star shared some words of praise for the ‘Beautiful Things’ singer.
He then continued to hold the microphone and talk to the crowd, while Ora jokingly wrestled it back from him to introduce K-Pop band LE SSERAFIM for their live performance on the night. Check out footage of the segment below.
bez right next to rita as she talks about le sserafim is insane actually pic.twitter.com/IYc52GyPCQ
— lauren 🕸️ (@swissyyroll) November 10, 2024
“Bez and Shaun Ryder from the Happy Mondays at the bar with Rita Ora is hysterical,” one viewer wrote on X.
Elsewhere, another recalled what it might have been like for viewers from outside the UK. “Bez and Shaun Ryder from the Happy Mondays being wild on TV and trying to grab the microphone from Rita Ora,” they wrote. “It was funny but I was thinking about how they must have looked to people watching in other countries who don’t know who they are and weren’t expecting that.”
Find more fan reactions below.
Bez and Shaun Ryder from the Happy Mondays at the bar with Rita Ora is hysterical 🤣😂🤣#MTVEMAs2024 👏🏽👏🏽
— Claudette Forrester (@forresterbird) November 10, 2024
Also Bez and Shaun Ryder from the Happy Mondays being wild on TV and trying to grab the microphone from Rita Ora 😭😭 It was funny but I was thinking about how they must have looked to people watching in other countries who don’t know who they are and weren’t expecting that lol
— r 🏹 (@fitfonvinyl) November 11, 2024
Think Bez is going to get a slap off @RitaOra in a minute!
— Hayley (@LadyHayley1894) November 10, 2024
Bez causing trouble at the mtv emas 😆
— Chris (@Chris26171939) November 10, 2024
Rota Ora trying to control Bez is not what I expected to see!! #EMA #mtv #EMAs #MTVEMAs2024
— Analise Harrison (@Lizardwizarde) November 10, 2024
Earlier in the ceremony, Benson Boone also got fans talking online after he pulled off one of his trademark overhead flips during his performance at the event.
His performance of his hit song began with him descending from the ceiling while playing the piano, and culminated in him leaping acrobatically from a platform in an overhead flip and landing on his feet. Later in the night, he won the award for Best New Artist and also was nominated for Best Song. Find a list of all the winners here.
Nominees were announced in October, and saw Taylor Swift lead the pack for the second year running, with a total of seven nods overall. Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Lisa and Ayra Starr were next in line with four nominations apiece.
The winners were chosen by fans’ votes on the EMAs website, aside from the Best Video award winner, who was selected by MTV. In the end, Swift also wound up winning the most awards, picking up four: Best Artist, Best Video (for ‘Fortnight’), Best Live and Best US Act.
The ceremony was broadcast on MTV UK, Channel 5 and Pluto TV, and can be streamed on Paramount+ from tomorrow (November 12).