The 2019 Billboard Music Awards starred Taylor Swift, BTS, Halsey, Mariah Carey, Paula Abdul and not a single hip-hop performance.
The 2019 Billboard Music Awards celebrated a wide range of pop hitmakers Wednesday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The show opened with the live debut of Taylor Swift’s new single “Me!” featuring Panic! At the Disco’s Brendon Urie. The performance largely recreated the song’s flowery, pastel-hued video, with Swift and Urie trailed by parasol-wielding backup dancers in a frothy production that fell somewhere between “Glee” and a Target commercial.
Some viewers, however, were quick to take issue with the pink-uniform-clad drumline that led the performance, which recalled a paler version of the drumline from Beyoncé’s iconic 2018 Coachella performance.
Taylor Swift really opened the #BBMAs with a (whitewashed) drumline a la Beyoncé pic.twitter.com/IeXjoOn0mn
Taylor Swift need to consult with Beyoncé regarding the marching band performance #BBMAspic.twitter.com/jyVrCilkFb
TAYLOR SWIFT JUST BIT TF OUTTA BEYONCE ON THE BILLBOARD AWARDS… I’m ???????????????????????????????? where is the beyhive???? pic.twitter.com/hWvRcKK4an
As with many top music awards shows in recent years, Billboard’s seemed challenged by hip-hop’s current dominance.
