Topless fan crashes Junos broadcast as Weeknd wins fifth award with album of the 12 months

A wildly unpredictable Juno Awards unfolded on Monday as a topless protester charged the stage, resulting in some feisty phrases from Avril Lavigne, whereas an absent the Weeknd emerged the highest winner this 12 months.

With a number of twists and turns, Canada’s greatest celebration of music did away with its sometimes tame proceedings shortly after the printed obtained underway.

Lavigne was interrupted by a topless girl who leapt on the stage sporting pasties on her breasts and “land back” painted on her arm.

The pop-punk princess appeared blindsided by the crasher and proceeded to swear at her, demanding she get off the stage. The particular person was rapidly escorted away by safety.

Unfazed, Lavigne moved on to introduce a efficiency by Punjabi-Canadian singer and rapper AP Dhillon.

She returned later to simply accept this 12 months’s fan selection award with a number of selection phrases and one other expletive: “Nobody try anything this time or the Canadian is going to come out of me and I’ll (mess) a bitch up.”

The sudden second set the tone for an lively Junos that noticed the Weeknd’s smash hit Dawn FM earn him album of the 12 months, including to 4 wins he scored at a Saturday trade occasion, together with artist and single of the 12 months for Sacrifice.

2:02
Juno week provides welcome spark to Edmonton’s music scene

After pop singer Tyler Shaw introduced the Toronto native, born Abel Tesfaye, was absent from the Junos, the gang expressed their disappointment and started to boo.

Tesfaye did ship a written assertion offered to The Canadian Press by Junos organizers:

“I am so honoured to be recognized like this from my home country that I love so much. I’m so humbled by all this and could never thank fans enough,” he wrote.

Other winners included Jessie Reyez who picked up up to date R&B recording of the 12 months for Yessie as her tearful father seemed on and Tobi who gained rap album/EP of the 12 months for Shall I Continue?

Newcomer Preston Pablo, who sings Flowers Need Rain, gained breakthrough artist of the 12 months.

Special honourees Nickelback have been current all through the evening, even earlier than they have been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in a pre-recorded message by actor Ryan Reynolds.

Guitarist Ryan Peake provided a hand — and a guitar — in a gap bit the place Liu confirmed off his vocal chops with a canopy of Nickelback’s Photograph.

All of the band took the stage as Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid ushered them into the Hall of Fame, saying Nickelback is amongst those that “have changed the game forever.”

In his speech, a smitten Chad Kroeger mirrored on his band’s humble beginnings in Hanna, Alta., saying they “had no idea what we were doing and most of the time still don’t.”

“But everything we did led us to this moment right here,” he added.

A little bit later, the band returned to shut out the printed with a medley of their greatest hits that included greater than its share of fiery pyro results.

After the Junos, the organizers issued a press release saying they take “every step to avoid interruptions” to this system, however that stay broadcasts all the time embrace dangers.

“We hope tonight’s brief disruption doesn’t take away from the accomplishments of this year’s performers, winners and nominees,” they added.

Yet, artists continued to buzz in regards to the topless fan backstage, with Lavigne telling the press room she was assured it was “going down as one of the highlights.”

Liu, who signed off the present saying “sorry about the boobs,” additionally joked about it backstage: “If you had told me before I hosted there would be someone who would take their shirt off at the Junos, and it wouldn’t be me, I would be shocked.”

&copy 2023 The Canadian Press