Katy Perry asked critics to “touch grass,” mentioning that “there are no decade-long accidents while she was receiving the MTV Video Vanguard Award at the 2024 VMAs as she delivered a defiant speech.
“I’m excited when I look around music today and I see all the amazing young artists who are operating with confidence, agency, vulnerability, and authenticity,” she said after her epic performance. “I’ve heard a lot of do this, don’t say that, wear less, wear more now, hey. Don’t cut your hair.
One of the biggest reasons I’m standing here right now is because I learned how to block out all of the noise, that every single artist in this industry has to constantly fight against, especially women. I just want to say with my whole heart, do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and true to your art. Turn off social media, safeguard your mental health. Pause. Touch grass. And do what you were born to do, just like I was born to do this.”
Her speech came after a medley of her biggest hits and recent songs from the yet-to-be released album 143, which is slated to be available to the audience on September 20.
The talented female artist did the performance to celebrate her successful career as introduced by her husband, Orlando Bloom. She also revealed Doechii as a special guest, floating above her dancers, which makes the medley an unforgettable victory lap.
She started her speech with a question to the audience, asking if they could believe she performed “on my first day of my period.” Going back on her career that she started with her first release, One of the Boys, she mentioned the challenges of sustaining a beautiful career in music.
She wrapped her speech with appreciation to her team, family, Katy Cats, and the LGBTQ+ community, jokingly calling out her husband, Bloom, for doing the dishes without forgetting to mention her daughter, Daisy.
Among the songs that she did were hits like “E.T.,” “California Gurls,” and “I Kissed a Girl,” along with new tracks “Lifetimes” and “I’m His, He’s Mine,” which had Doechii and releases on Friday.