MTV Video Music Awards 2023: Sam Smith leads the British nominees with FOUR nods for their raunchy hit Unholy - and Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran are close behind with two each
Sam Smith and Dua Lipa are among the British stars who have landed nominations at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
A selection of UK names received recognition in the battle for the highly coveted Moonperson prize ahead of the ceremony, which will take place on September 12.
Collaborating with Kim Petras, Sam earned a total of four nominations for their racy track Unholy, which has already earned the duo a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
This year's VMAs has already made history by having its entire list of Artist of the Year contenders comprised only of women for the first time ever, with eight-time nominee Taylor Swift leading the pack.
Sam earned four nods for their sultry hit, which has sparked controversy thanks to a slew of raunchy performances and 'satanic' content.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/08/19/74094497-12385951-image-a-67_1691518114600.jpg)
Naughty! Sam Smith led the British stars who have landed nominations at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, with the hitmaker received four nods for their raunchy hit Unholy
The song has been nominated for the top prize, Video Of The Year, and will compete against Attention by Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus' Flowers, Super Freaky Girl by Nicki Minaj, vampire by Olivia Rodrigo, Kill Bill by SZA and Taylor Swift's Anti-Hero.
Unholy has also been nominated for Song Of The Year, and will compete against Flowers, vampire, Kill Bill, Anti-Hero, Calm Down by Rema and Selena Gomez and Steve Lacy's Bad Habit.
The video has also been nominated for Best Direction and Best Visual Effects.
Sam Smith sparked huge controversy among conservative US viewers when they performed a Satan-inspired rendition of Unholy at the Grammy Awards in February.
Their performance, accompanied by frequent collaborator Kim, was also adorned by fire and backup dancers dressed as the Devil.
Following the set, several conservative leaders and media figures argued that the act is the latest chapter in the culture wars controversy, suggesting a woke inclination towards Satanism.
Just weeks later, Sam performed the same track at the BRIT Awards, and sparked over 100 Ofcom complaints over 'devil worship' and a passionate kiss.
Dua Lipa's Dance The Night has landed a nomination for Best Pop, where it will compete against Demi Lovato's Swine, Eyes Closed by Ed Sheeran, Flowers, vampire, Anti-Hero and Trustfall by P!nk.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/08/18/74093573-12385951-image-m-30_1691515581133.jpg)
Wow! Dua Lipa's Dance The Night has landed a nomination for Best Pop after earning worldwide success thanks to its appearance in Barbie last month
![Moving: Ed Sheeran has earned two nods for his song Eyes Closed and its emotional video, which was inspired by the loss of his close friend Jamal Edwards](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/08/18/74093257-12385951-image-a-34_1691515646599.jpg)
Moving: Ed Sheeran has earned two nods for his song Eyes Closed and its emotional video, which was inspired by the loss of his close friend Jamal Edwards
![Shocking! Sam Smith sparked huge controversy among conservative US viewers when they performed a Satan-inspired rendition of Unholy at the Grammy Awards in February](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/08/18/74093603-12385951-image-a-31_1691515620656.jpg)
Shocking! Sam Smith sparked huge controversy among conservative US viewers when they performed a Satan-inspired rendition of Unholy at the Grammy Awards in February
The hit, which has earned worldwide success following its appearance in Barbie last month, has also been nominated for Best Choreography.
Ed Sheeran has earned two nods for his song Eyes Closed and its emotional video, which was inspired by the loss of his close friend Jamal Edwards.
The two-time VMA winner was nominated for Best Pop and Best Cinematography.
Adele also landed a nomination for Cinematography for I Drink Wine, while Harry Styles is up for Best Visual Effects for his zany mermaid-inspired video for Music For A Sushi Restaurant.
Muse are nominated for Best Rock for You Make Me Feel Like It's Halloween, and Sam Ryder and FLO, were recognised in the list for Push Performance of the Year.
Taylor leads the nominations for this year's MTV Video Music Awards with eight nods.
The Cruel Summer hitmaker is up for the coveted Artist of the Year accolade – for which she faces competition from Beyonce, Doja Cat, KAROL G, Nicki Minaj and Shakira – while her track Anti-Hero has been shortlisted for Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Visual Effects.
Taylor, who will be hoping to bag a record-breaking fourth Video of the Year award, is followed in the nominations by SZA, who has six nods.
A staggering 35 artists are nominated for the first time this year, with Kim Petras making the shortlist for five prizes; all for her Sam Smith collaboration Unholy.
![Unusual: Harry Styles is up for Best Visual Effects for his zany mermaid-inspired video for Music For A Sushi Restaurant](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/08/18/74093357-12385951-Unusual_Harry_Styles_is_up_for_Best_Visual_Effects_for_his_zany_-a-24_1691515451921.jpg)
Unusual: Harry Styles is up for Best Visual Effects for his zany mermaid-inspired video for Music For A Sushi Restaurant
![Surreal: Adele also landed a nomination for Cinematography for I Drink Wine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/08/18/74093665-12385951-image-a-37_1691515775725.jpg)
Surreal: Adele also landed a nomination for Cinematography for I Drink Wine
In addition, newcomers Metro Boomin and Rema are up for three awards each, while Ayra Starr, GloRilla, Ice Spice, Peso Pluma, Renee Rapp and Yung Miami are all in the running for two accolades.
Fans are able to vote for their favourites in 15 categories, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and new prize Best Afrobeats, by visiting vote.mtv.com until 1 September.
Voting for Best New Artist – for which GloRilla, Ice Spice, Kalii, Peso Pluma, PinkPantheress and Renee Rapp are nominated – will remain open into the VMAs ceremony.
Nominations for social categories, including Song of Summer and Group of the Year, will be announced at a later date.
The MTV VMAs will return to New Jersey's famed Prudential Center Tuesday, September 12 at 8PM ET/PT as it will air live on MTV.
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