The MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) ceremony, originally slated for November 2023, has now been officially canceled, according to recent news reports.
The decision to cancel the event comes in the wake of escalating threats of violence across Europe. Recent incidents, including the tragic stabbing of a teacher in France by her student and the killing of two football fans in Sweden, have been linked to the ongoing Israel and Gaza situation.
In light of these concerning events, the organizers of the MTV Europe Music Awards have affirmed that the 2023 edition will not proceed due to safety concerns.
This announcement was confirmed by the Daily Mail UK in a statement that read, “The terror threat in France is currently at the highest level after a teacher was murdered by a 20-year-old Chechen refugee, while police also foiled a similar attack on another school. Yesterday, six airports across France were evacuated following threats of attacks, while on Monday two men were shot dead in Brussels by a gunman claiming to be a supporter of ISIS.”
A Paramount Global spokesman stated, ‘Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life. The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration of global music. As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning. We look forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November of 2024.’
It has been officially confirmed that the artists who received award nominations will still receive their awards, despite the cancellation of the MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony. This decision ensures that the recognition and acknowledgment of their achievements will not be affected by the event’s cancellation.
Voting is continuing and the winning artists will receive their MTV EMA Awards.
We look forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November of 2024.
— MTV EMA (@mtvema) October 19, 2023