Taylor Swift Does It for the Fans

Taylor Swift, the recipient of the MTV VMAs’ first ever Artist Director Honors, might be one of the most highly accomplished and hardest-working pop acts in the world, but she turned her inaugural award moment — one of the rare prizes not dictated by fan votes — into an extended “thank you” to the greater Swiftie community. Those fans include her IRL friends, like the “Patient Zero” star and longtime squad member Dakota Johnson, who presented the award to the singer. “She is an architect of emotional landscapes filled with the most intimate and intricate detail,” Johnson explained, adding that her old pal is also a “visionary with a relentless drive.”

Swift was once lampooned for her “looking surprised at awards shows” face, but tonight she looked genuinely touched by Johnson’s words and the honor overall in a night that’s otherwise been very Madonna-forward. Lest you need some reminding of Swift’s “relentless” drive, she told the audience she’s made “roughly 60” music videos, 18 of which she’s written and directed herself. “The main reason why I love writing and directing music videos so much is because you, the fans, make it so much fun,” she said, beaming. You heard her: No matter what she said on The Tortured Poets Department, it’s good to overthink her music videos a little bit. We’re all having fun out here. Rather than tout her own accomplishments, however, Swift was wise enough to let the work speak for itself. After a quick nod to her collaborators, namely Johnson, Colin Farrell, and cinematographer Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki, Swift introduced “Patient Zero” and let the fans run wild.