MTV VMAs Honor Chadwick Boseman: ‘His Impact Lives Forever'
Host Keke Palmer said the Sunday night awards show was dedicated to Boseman, who died at the age of 43 on Friday
By The Associated Press ••
NBCUniversal, Inc.
The “Black Panther” star died Friday after a four-year battle with cancer.
"Black Panther" star Chadwick Boseman, whose death from colon cancer shocked fans, was honored at the MTV Video Music Awards as a hero in real life, not just on the big screen.
Host Keke Palmer said the Sunday night awards show was dedicated to Boseman, who died at the age of 43 on Friday.
Palmer said Boseman was "a true hero, not just on screen but in everything he did." On screen, Boseman played Black icons like Jackie Robinson, James Brown and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
"His impact lives forever," Palmer noted.
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Chadwick Boseman films on location for “42” on July 18, 2012, in Brooklyn, New York. Boseman portrayed Jackie Robinson’s career playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
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Rachel Robinson, widow of Jackie Robinson, hug actor Chadwick Boseman at the after party for the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “42” at the Chinese Theatre on April 9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
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Harrison Ford and Chad Boseman visit BET’s 106 & Park at BET Studios on April 8, 2013, in New York City.
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Laurence Fishburne and Chadwick Boseman arrive at the “Man Of Steel” World Premiere at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on June 10, 2013, in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)
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Chadwick Boseman attends the second day of the Radio Broadcast Center during the BET Awards ’14 on June 28, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
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Chadwick Boseman and film director Spike Lee greet each other at the NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on April 14, 2013, in New York City.
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First lady Michelle Obama speaks as actors Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford and Rachel Robinson, widow of the late baseball player Jackie Robinson, listen during a State Dining Room event April 2, 2013, at the White House in Washington, D.C.
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Chadwick Boseman throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies followed by a special screening of “42” at Dodger Stadium on July 13, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
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Mick Jagger and Chadwick Boseman speak prior to a special screening of “Get On Up” on Sept. 14, 2014, in London, England.
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Actor Chadwick Boseman arrives at the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “42” at the Chinese Theatre on April 9, 2013, in Los Angeles, California.
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Chadwick Boseman gives a fist bump at “Late Show with David Letterman” at Ed Sullivan Theater on August 20, 2014, in New York City.
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Chris Pratt accepts the Hollywood Blockbuster Award for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ from Chadwick Boseman onstage during the 18th Annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Palladium on Nov. 14, 2014, in Hollywood, California.
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Chadwick Boseman and NY Giants’ Odell Beckham attend the Public School runway show during MADE Fashion Week Fall 2015 at Studio 330 on Feb. 15, 2015 in New York City.
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Chadwick Boseman shoots against Anthony Anderson during the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game as part of 2015 All-Star Weekend at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 13, 2015, in New York, New York.
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Nicole Beharie and Chadwick Boseman speak onstage during the 45th NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 22, 2014, in Pasadena, California.
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Chadwick Boseman arrives at the “Get On Up” premiere at The Apollo Theater on July 21, 2014, in New York City.
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Chadwick Boseman and Chris Evans speak onstage during the 88th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Feb. 28, 2016 ,in Hollywood, California.
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Actor Chadwick Boseman interviews with host Jay Leno on April 26, 2013.
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Chadwick Boseman attends Audi Arrivals at The World Premiere Of “Avengers: Age Of Ultron” at Dolby Theatre on April 13, 2015 in Hollywood, California.
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Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong’o attend the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014, in West Hollywood, California.
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Robert Downey Jr., Chadwick Boseman and Chris Evans onstage during Marvel Studios fan event at The El Capitan Theatre on Oct. 28, 2014, in Los Angeles, California.
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Chadwick Boseman speaks with host Seth Meyers backstage on May 2, 2016.
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John Boyega and Chadwick Boseman at the after party for the World Premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Hollywood Blvd on Dec. 14, 2015, in Hollywood, California.
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Chadwick Boseman is seen at ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ on June 21, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
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Comic Book legend Stan Lee poses with actor Chadwick Boseman on the purple carpet for the premiere of Disney and Marvel’s “Black Panther” held at the Dolby Theatre on Jan. 29, 2018, in Hollywood, California.
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Chadwick Boseman attends the AOL Speaker Series to discuss “Captain America: Civil War” at AOL Studios In New York on May 4, 2016, in New York City.
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Sebastian Stan and Chadwick Boseman attend the Cinema Society with Audi and FIJI Water host a screening of Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” on May 4, 2016, in New York City.
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Director Ryan Coogler, Actor Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’s and Michael B. Jordan arrive at the press conference for the Seoul premiere of ‘Black Panther’ on Feb. 5, 2018, in Seoul, South Korea.
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Moderator Roland Martin, host of TV One’s
“News One Now,” lead actor Chadwick Boseman and Director Reginald Hudlin, participate in a Q&A after the advance screening of the movie “Marshall,” a biography of a young Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice.
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Moderator Tamron Hall, actors Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, and Chadwick Boseman speak at the “Marshall” Q&A at AMC Empire 25 theater on Sept. 23, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)
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Sterling K. Brown, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett, Daniel Kaluuya, Lupita Nyong’o, Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Andy Serkis, and Forest Whitaker; writer/director Ryan Coogler; Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige; producers Louis D’Esposito and Victoria Alonso, and executive producer Nate Moore at the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” at Dolby Theatre on Jan. 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California.
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Terry Crews, Chadwick Boseman, Jennifer Garner, Kevin Costner and Denis Leary attend a press conference for the film “Draft Day” on Jan. 31, 2014 in New York City.
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Author Ta-Nehisi Coates makes the “Wakanda Forever” sign with Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong’o at The Apollo Theater on Feb. 27, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Shahar Azran/WireImage)
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Actor Daniel Kaluuya and writer/director Jordan Peele accept Best Feature for ‘Get Out’ from actor Chadwick Boseman onstage during the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 3, 2018 in Santa Monica, California.
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Octavia Spencer, Brian Grazer, Mick Jagger, Tate Taylor, NY Program Director for The Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences Patrick Harrison, actor Chadwick Boseman, Victoria Pearman, Nelsan Ellis, and Dan Aykroyd arrive at a special screening of ‘Get On Up’ hosted by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences at The Academy Theatre at Lighthouse International on July 17, 2014, in New York City.
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Chadwick Boseman attends the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.
Later on Boseman was included during an in memoriam segment alongside other artists like Juice WRLD and Little Richard who died in the past year. And after Black Eyed Peas wrapped the show with their performance of "I Gotta Feeling," singer Will.I.Am shouted out "Wakanda Forever," a reference to the fictional kingdom the Black Panther rules in the film and comic series.
It's was the second channel to recognize the impact of the actor that night. ABC aired "Black Panther" commercial-free Sunday as a prime-time tribute to the actor, followed by an ABC News Special, "Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King."
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Miley Cyrus arrives at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020, in New York City, ahead of her performance.
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Bebe Rexha attends the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.
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Model Bella Hadid attends the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.
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Actress Joey King arrives at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.
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Madison Beer poses prior to presenting an award at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.
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Keke Palmer, who hosted the 2020 MTV VMAs, performs during the show.
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CNCO members (L-R) Zabdiel De Jesus, Erick Brian Colon, Richard Camacho, Joel Pimentel, and Christopher Velez perform at the VMAs.
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Lady Gaga accepts the Artist of the Year award.
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Tyga performs at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.
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The Black Eyed Peas – (L-R) apl.de.ap, will.i.am, Taboo, and J. Rey Soul – perform "I Gotta Feeling."
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Halle Bailey, left, and Chloe Bailey, of Chloe X Halle, perform prior to the start of the MTV Video Music Awards.
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Doja Cat performs on an intergalactic-themed set during the VMAs.
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Jaden Smith presents the award for best collaboration during VMAs.
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South Korean boy band BTS performs “Dynamite."
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Reminiscent of her "Wrecking Ball" performance in 2013, Miley Cyrus sings her new single "Midnight Sky" from a swinging disco ball.
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Kelly Clarkson presents an award at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.
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Doja Cat, winner of the PUSH Best New Artist award, presented by Chime Banking, poses in the winners room during the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.
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Machine Gun Kelly poses with the Best Alternative Award for “Bloody Valentine."
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Travis Barker, who also performed during the show, speaks onstage.
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Nicole Richie presents an award during the 2020 VMAs.
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Lady Gaga, in an elaborate face mask, accepts the Best Collaboration award for “Rain on Me” with Ariana Grande.
Photo Illustration by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
In this photo illustration, the VMAs honor Chadwick Boseman. The "Black Panther" actor died on Aug. 28, 2020, at 43.
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The Weeknd performs high above Manhattan at Edge at Hudson Yards.
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Sofia Carson presents an award.
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DaBaby makes a statement about protesting and police reform during his performance Sunday night.
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Maluma accepts the Best Latin award for “Qué Pena” with J Balvin.
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Lady Gaga poses with her four awards.
