Astrology fans, get your star charts out, because Taylor Swift just read the cosmos and realized that Nicki Minaj is the perfect distillation of her sign at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday (Sept. 12).
Joining Minaj on stage after winning her third Moon Person for best direction, Swift immediately hugged Minaj and mouthed “I love you” to her. As she stepped to the microphone, the pop star gestured back to the rapper and told the crowd, “That’s my favorite Sagittarius over there,” much to the Minaj’s delight.
Swift then went on to accept her award for self-directing her “Anti-Hero” music video, by first acknowledging her team of fellow directors on the project; editor Chancler Haynes and her director of photography Rina Yang. “If there is one thing I’ve learned about direction, it’s that it is absolutely a team sport,” she said. “We’ve worked together so many times, and every time it is so much fun.”
The “Cruel Summer” singer also made sure to give a special thank you to Mike Birbiglia, John Early and Mary Elizabeth Ellis, who portrayed “my nightmare, horrendous future children” in the song’s iconic funeral scene. “You absolutely played the parts perfectly,” she said.
Swift — who is also a Sagittarius — was nominated for a whopping 11 awards at Tuesday evening’s ceremony, leading all other artists in nominations. Those nods included video, artist and song of the year, the latter of which she won early in the ceremony for “Anti-Hero.” Minaj, meanwhile, served as the evening’s host, while also earning six nominations of her own.
