Colombian singers Maluma and J Balvin won the Video Music Award for Best Latin nomination, with their song "Que Pena" ["Too Bad"], outrunning collaborations by Black Eyed Peas and Ozuna, Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, Anuel AA and others.
Maluma attended the ceremony, performing his latest hit "Hawai" from the new album "Papi Juancho" and delivering a speech from the stage.
"Wow. Oh my God. I can't believe this", he said, continuing in Spanglish: "Thank you to all my fans for their love and affection you show me every day. Especially to my mom and dad and little sister who are watching from home. Everything I do, I do for them."
CONGRATULATIONS @maluma and @jbalvin on winning Best Latin! ❤️#VMAs pic.twitter.com/F86JvlAA1G
— Video Music Awards (@vmas) August 31, 2020
Both he and J Balvin come from Medellin, Colombia, which Maluma outlined during his speech on stage, also giving a shoutout to his partner and compatriot.
"Que Pena" competed with Anuel AA's "China," Bad Bunny's "Yo Perreo Sola," J Balvin's solo hit "Amarillo," Black Eyed Peas and Ozuna's "Mamacita" and Karol G and Nicki Minaj's "Tusa."
Congrats to @maluma and @JBALVIN on winning Best Latin at the #VMAs 🎉 pic.twitter.com/LpUJ0YS3CF
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
The reggaeton star intended to deliver a massive show on the VMA stage, involving dozens of dancers and even a bull, but due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions, the performance was toned down, Maluma told New York Post.
The ceremony featured performances by Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Miley Cyrus and many other prominent figures of the music industry. The show also saw a tribute to Latino music, with several artists performing "Mi Gente", a big reggaeton hit by J Balvin, at several iconic locations in New York City including Spanish Harlem, Brooklyn and downtown.
