Look what you made her do. Taylor Swift appeared only via video at this year’s Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs).
Swift, 34, was not physically present during the awards show that aired on Thursday, Dec. 12, but it might not be for the reason some fans may think.
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Billboard recently found itself in hot water with Swifties for posting a controversial video of the “Karma” songstress. Though Billboard later issued an apology for “falsely” depicting Swift in a video meant to celebrate her landing the second spot on the music magazine’s Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century list, fans weren’t expecting her to show up to Thursday’s awards show ceremony—even though she had 17 nominations.
While the “Fortnight” songstress didn’t attend in person, she did appear in a pre-recorded video message that was played at the end of the night after the BBMAs announced that she’d won 10 new trophies, bringing her lifetime BBMAs total to a whopping 49.
In her video message, which the awards show later shared on X, formerly Twitter, Swift attributed her 10 new awards to her fans, telling them that Billboard is “counting what you listen to, the albums that you’re passionate about.”
“I count these as, like, fan-voted awards, because you guys are the ones who care about our albums and come see us in concert,” Swift explained. She went on to thank fans for the success of her hit international Eras Tour and her most recent album, The Tortured Poets Department, telling Swifties that it “means the world to me that you guys have embraced the things I’ve made, and the fact that you’ve cared so much about my music.”
“This is, like, the nicest early birthday present you could have given me. So thank you very much.”
Long Live all the magic of @taylorswift13! đź’«
Congrats on your 10 #BBMAs wins tonight and 49 all-time! 🏆💛 And happy early birthday to you 💖 pic.twitter.com/keWFqMknrF
— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) December 13, 2024
Given Swift’s hectic schedule—and the fact that she will be celebrating her 35th birthday on Friday, Dec. 13—her decision to skip the BBMAs wasn’t entirely unexpected.
In just the last week, the “Cruel Summer” songstress closed out her Eras Tour with a final performance in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Dec. 8. Earlier on Thursday, Swift was also spotted stopping by a children’s hospital in Kansas City, Mo., where she visited with fans and signed copies of her new The Eras Tour Book.
Swift wasn’t the only big name of the night to only appear at the show via video; the performances by Jelly Roll and Linkin Park were recorded on their respective tours. The group, as well as country star Morgan Wallen, also accepted their several trophies of the night with a pre-recorded statement.
