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MTV Awards host Rita Ora paid a poignant tribute to her friend Liam Payne on stage at the ceremony, saying he had the “biggest heart”.

Ora, who duetted with Payne on the song For You from the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack in 2018, became emotional as she spoke about the One Direction star towards the end of the event.

The 31-year-old singer died after he fell from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 16 October.

Speaking on stage at the MTV Europe Awards in Manchester, Ora described Payne as “one of the kindest people” she ever knew.

MTV EMAs host Rita Ora paid tribute to Liam Payne at the end of the ceremony. Pic: Reuters
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Pic: Reuters

Her voice shaking, the 33-year-old appeared tearful as she addressed the audience.

“I just want to take a moment to remember someone very, very dear to us,” she said. “We lost him recently and he was a big part of the MTV world and my world.”

Payne “had the biggest heart and was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could”, she added. “He brought so much joy to every room he walked into and he left such a mark on the world.”

The tribute took place near the end of a ceremony which saw Taylor Swift crowned best artist – making her the first act to claim the award three times.

The star, who is about to resume her record-breaking Eras tour next week, also won the awards for best live act, best US artist and best video for Fortnight, her collaboration with Post Malone. She did not attend the event – instead cheering on her NFL star boyfriend Travis Kelce at his latest game – but gave a recorded speech to accept her prizes.

“I had the best time touring in Europe this summer, so it just is wonderful for you to do this,” she said.

Sabrina Carpenter and Raye among winners

Raye performs at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards at Manchester Co-op Live in Manchester, Britain, November 10, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Noble
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Raye was named best UK and Ireland act. Pic: Reuters/Phil Noble


Sabrina Carpenter‘s mega hit Espresso was crowned best song, while Ariana Grande was named best pop act and South African star Tyla – one of the night’s performers – picked up the awards for best Afrobeats and best R’n’B.

British singer Raye, who cleaned up at the Brits earlier this year, was named best UK and Ireland act, and also performed her hits Escapism and Body Dysmorphia as her name shone in lights behind her.

Hip-hop star Busta Rhymes received the global icon award before performing a medley of hits including Break Ya Neck, Put My Hands Where Your Eyes Could See, and I Know What You Want.

“I’ve never got an award from MTV before,” he said, as he accepted the trophy from British star Little Simz. “Thirty-four years of professionally recording, this is the first time I’m getting an award from MTV.

“It feels f****** incredible.”

Busta Rhymes receives the Global Icon award at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards at Manchester Co-op Live in Manchester, Britain, November 10, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Noble
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Busta Rhymes was honoured with the global icon award. Pic: Reuters/Phil Noble


The night was opened by Benson Boone, who made a show-stopping entrance suspended in the air playing a golden piano before touching down to perform his hit, Beautiful Things, as pyrotechnics sparked around him.

He quickly went on to pick up the first prize of the night, for best new artist.

“Thank you guys for changing my life,” he told the crowd. “I promise you I will be giving it all back to you.”

Tyla performs at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards at Manchester Co-op Live in Manchester, Britain, November 10, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Noble
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Tyla performed before picking up awards including best R’n’B. Pic: Reuters/Phil Noble


Rapper Eminem was also among the winners, accepting his best hip-hop gong in a video speech which he started in a mock British accent. “I appreciate y’all, man,” he added.

Other award winners were announced on screen, including Liam Gallagher for best rock and Calvin Harris in the best electronic category.

The show was closed by the Pet Shop Boys, who performed the classic hit West End Girls and their new cover of Mott The Hoople’s All The Young Dudes, after being honoured with the pop pioneers award.

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Stars on the MTV Awards red carpet

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Shaun Ryder and Bez talk pop and politics

Earlier in the night, stars gathered on the red carpet – including local Mancunian guests such as Blossoms and Happy Mondays stars Shaun Ryder and Bez.

Former X Factor stars Jedward – twins John and Edward Grimes – were also among the VIP guests.

Speaking to Sky News on the red carpet, they paid tribute to Payne, saying they had “grown up together” and that his death was a “big loss”.

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This is the first time the MTV event, which is held in different European cities each year, has taken place in the UK since a ceremony in London in 2017 – when Payne performed Strip That Down, his first solo single, to launch his career after One Direction.

It has also previously been held in Liverpool and Glasgow, but this is a first for Manchester and its new Co-op Live arena – which opened earlier this year, albeit three weeks later than planned due to several setbacks and cancellations.

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Best moments from the MTV EMAs

Last year’s EMAs ceremony was planned for Paris, but was cancelled amid security concerns “given the volatility of world events” following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

The European awards are separate to the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), which take place in the US earlier in the year.

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Swift dominated at that ceremony, taking home seven gongs to equal Beyonce’s career total of 30 and match her as most-awarded musician in VMAs history.

But her three EMA wins take her to a career total of 18 – which means she still has a few to go to equal Justin Bieber’s record of 22.

The MTV EMA winners

Taylor Swift is shown on screen after winning the Best Video award for "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone, at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards at Manchester Co-op Live in Manchester, Britain, November 10, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Noble
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Taylor Swift accepted her awards in a video message. Pic: Reuters/Phil Noble


Best artist – Taylor Swift
Best song – Sabrina Carpenter, Espresso
Best UK and Ireland act – Raye
Best video – Taylor Swift ft Post Malone, Fortnight
Best new artist – Benson Boone
Best collaboration – Lisa ft Rosalia, New Woman
Best US act – Taylor Swift
Best live – Taylor Swift
Best pop – Ariana Grande
Best rock – Liam Gallagher
Best alternative – Imagine Dragons
Best hip-hop – Eminem
Best K-pop – Jimin
Best electronic – Calvin Harris
Best R’n’B – Tyla
Best Afrobeats – Tyla
Best Latin – Peso Pluma
Best push – Le Sserafim
Biggest fans – Lisa
Global icon – Busta Rhymes
Pop pioneers – Pet Shop Boys

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Voice behind top Simpsons character quits after 35 years on hit show

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Voice behind top Simpsons character quits after 35 years on hit show

The voice actor behind Milhouse Van Houten – Bart Simpson’s very uncool friend – is stepping away after 35 years on the show.

Pamela Hayden, who also voiced Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Janey and Malibu Stacy, will sign off from The Simpsons on 24 November in a Treehouse of Horror episode.

“It’s been an honour and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and groundbreaking show,” the 70-year-old said in a statement.

Pamela Hayden. File pic: AP
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Pamela Hayden. File pic: AP

Show creator Matt Groening said: “Pamela gave us tons of laughs with Milhouse, the hapless kid with the biggest nose in Springfield.

“She made Milhouse hilarious and real, and we will miss her.”

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Milhouse first appeared in a Butterfinger commercial in 1989 and was named after former US president Richard Milhous Nixon.

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Groening said he adopted it “because that was the most unfortunate name a kid could have”.

The nearsighted character was often the butt of most jokes and bullied mercilessly by Nelson.

In one episode, Bart got Milhouse placed on the America’s Most Wanted list.

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Tulisa Contostavlos: ‘My life fell apart’ after fake sheikh set up drugs bust

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Tulisa Contostavlos: 'My life fell apart' after fake sheikh set up drugs bust

Tulisa Contostavlos has opened up about the moment she says her life “fell apart” after being “set up by a British newspaper” and charged with supplying drugs.

The N-Dubz star has been speaking about her experiences in 2013 on the reality show, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!

The charges against the singer were later dismissed after prosecution witness “fake sheikh” journalist Mazher Mahmood was found to have tampered with evidence during her 2014 trial.

“2013 was the year I was set up by a British newspaper, for concern in the selling of class A drugs,” she told fellow campmate Oti Mabuse.

“The guy’s name was Mahmood and basically, I was approached by a big movie company and they sent me a tweet or a DM from their official account to audition me for a movie role… I’d dabbled in acting, so this opportunity for me was huge.”

Contostavlos, 36, said the role was offering £3.5m and she was flown out for meetings with producers in Las Vegas but told former Strictly Come Dancing star Mabuse “it was a lie”.

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She claimed the team behind the movie encouraged her to take on a real-life role of a “bad girl from London who was constantly up to naughtiness, rolling with gangs, up to all kinds of naughty stuff”.

Contostavlos said “they had me dangling on the end of a string”, claiming every time she met with the team they would tell her “we need some drugs”.

“After months and months, eventually they got a number and it was of someone that wasn’t even a drug dealer, it was an aspiring movie producer and I wanted to make a hook up as well for that person, but I didn’t know anyone that could do that,” she said.

“The long story short is they ended up ordering £800 worth of cocaine from the number that I had given them.

“Then before I knew it, I was being arrested in the concern of the selling of Class A drugs and I was facing four years in prison.”

Contostavlos revealed she lost “all my endorsements” over the incident and “my life fell apart”, she said.

“When it came to the trial, I’d had a conversation with one of their drivers, I was being recorded but I didn’t know, I was saying how anti-drugs I am, so they were very aware of my feelings towards drugs.”

Contostavlos said the driver initially gave a statement confirming she was anti-drugs, however she claimed that as the trial loomed the journalist forced him to change his statement.

In 2016, Mahmood was jailed for 15 months after being found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice relating to his actions in Tulisa Contostavlos’s court case.

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Liam Payne’s One Direction bandmates Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson among mourners as funeral takes place

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Liam Payne's One Direction bandmates Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson among mourners as funeral takes place

Friends and family of Liam Payne, including his One Direction bandmates, have gathered to say goodbye at his funeral.

Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik were among the family and friends attending the private ceremony.

Simon Cowell, who put the band together on The X Factor, Payne‘s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, and former partner Cheryl were also there.

The 31-year-old died after he fell from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 16 October.

Fans from around the world have held their own vigils over the past few weeks, and tributes have been left today in his hometown, Wolverhampton.

Former One Direction band member Louis Tomlinson arrives for the funeral service of One Direction singer Liam Payne at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Picture date: Wednesday November 20, 2024. PA Photo. The singer died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires last month, at the age of 31. See PA story FUNERAL Payne. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
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Louis Tomlinson is also attending the ceremony. Pic: PA

Damian Hurley (right) and Kate Cassidy (centre) arrive for the funeral service of One Direction singer Liam Payne at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Picture date: Wednesday November 20, 2024. PA Photo. The singer died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires last month, at the age of 31. See PA story FUNERAL Payne. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
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Damian Hurley (right) arrived with Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy (centre). Pic: PA

Payne’s dark blue coffin, topped with white roses, arrived for the service on a horse-drawn carriage, bearing flowers reading “son” and “daddy” – for his son, Bear, with Cheryl.

Her Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh were also among those at the service, along with TV and radio presenters including James Corden, Marvin and Rochelle Humes, Scott Mills, and Adrian Chiles, and former professional footballer Robbie Keane.

US influencer Cassidy, who returned home from Argentina two days before his death, arrived with Damian Hurley, son of Elizabeth Hurley.

As Payne’s mother and father, Geoff and Karen, arrived at the church in the Home Counties, standing next to the carriage, silence fell among mourners outside.

A few locals and fans also gathered nearby, but in the main largely stayed away from the private ceremony.

Zayn Malik arrives to attend the funeral of former One Direction singer Liam Payne at St. Mary's Church in Amersham, near London, Britain, November 20, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville
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Zayn Malik. Pic: Reuters

Former One Direction band member Niall Horan (centre) arrives for the funeral service of One Direction singer Liam Payne at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Picture date: Wednesday November 20, 2024. PA Photo. The singer died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires last month, at the age of 31. See PA story FUNERAL Payne. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
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Niall Horan. Pic: PA

Payne rose to worldwide fame alongside Styles, Tomlinson, Malik and Horan on The X Factor in 2010, when they were put together to form One Direction. They went on to become one of the most successful UK pop groups of all time.

After the band announced their hiatus, the singer launched his solo career, releasing his debut album LP1 in December 2019.

His solo hits included Strip That Down, Bedroom Floor and For You, a collaboration with singer Rita Ora – who paid tribute to Payne as she hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards in Manchester.

Prosecutors in Argentina have launched an investigation into Payne’s death and announced earlier this month that three people had been charged in connection with the incident.

File photo dated 19/02/14 of (left to right) Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Nial Horan from One Direction with their Awards in the press room at the 2014 Brit Awards at the O2 Arena, London.. Liam Payne has died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, according to local officials. He was 31. Issue date: Wednesday October 16, 2024.
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One Direction in 2014: Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Nial Horan. Pic: PA

One Direction tributes

Payne’s One Direction bandmates all publicly paid tribute following his death.

“His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it,” said Styles in his statement. “Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.

“He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.”

Tomlinson said he had “lost a brother” and offered to be an uncle to Payne’s son, Bear, if he “ever needs me”.

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One Direction made dreams a reality – but fame wasn’t easy
He had the X Factor – but less support than artists today

A horse-drawn carriage carrying the coffin of Liam Payne arrives for the funeral service.
Pic: PA
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A horse-drawn carriage carried Payne’s coffin. Pic: PA

Floral tributes to singer Liam Payne at a memorial in West Park in his hometown of Wolverhampton. The funeral of the One Direction star will be held today in the Home Counties. Picture date: Wednesday November 20, 2024. PA Photo. The singer died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires last month, at the age of 31. See PA story FUNERAL Payne. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
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Flowers have also been left in West Park in his hometown of Wolverhampton. Pic: PA

Horan, who had been touring in South America and saw Payne at his show in the weeks before his death, said: “I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.”

Malik said Payne had supported him “through some of the most difficult times” of his life, and said he always had a “positive outlook and reassuring smile”.

Cowell also paid tribute, saying he was “devastated” and “heartbroken”.

He continued: “I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like? And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.”

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