VMAs, Keke Palmer Pay Tribute By Dedicating Show To Chadwick Boseman

MTV and the host of the 2020 Video Music Awards (VMAs), Keke Palmer, paid an emotional tribute to the late actor Chadwick Boseman during the show on Sunday night. The tribute comes a couple of days after the “Black Panther” star passed away due to colon cancer.

Palmer started the opening segment with a touching tribute to the “Avengers: Endgame” star and said that his talent was a “true inspiration” to everyone he ever encountered, the Los Angeles Times reported. The “GIANTS” hitmaker “dedicated” the show to Boseman and noted that his “impact” will live forever in the hearts of the fans.

“Before we get into the music tonight, we need to dedicate the time to talk about the devastating loss of Chadwick Boseman, an actor whose talent is a true inspiration to all the fans he touched and everyone he encountered. We dedicate tonight’s show to a man whose spirit touched so many. He is a true spirit, not just onscreen but in everything he did. His impact lives forever,” Palmer said during the opening segment.

MTV also echoed the same sentiment and paid tribute to the late actor on its official Twitter account.

“RIP Chadwick Boseman. Tonight’s #VMAs are dedicated to him,” the network tweeted.

Boseman died on Aug. 28 in his home in Los Angeles after a four-year battle with colon cancer. He was 43.

The actor’s family confirmed the news by issuing a statement on Twitter, saying that Boseman went through several surgeries while working on various projects during his professional career.

“It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman. Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV. A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From 'Marshall to Da 5 Bloods,' August Wilson's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy,” the statement read.

Boseman started his career in 2003 on a TV show called “Third Watch” and appeared in several other series like “Law & Order,” “ER,” and “Lincoln Heights.” However, his moment of glory came in 2013 when he portrayed the character of famous Baseball player Jackie Robinson in the movie “42.”

He made his Marvel debut in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War” and played the titular character in Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther.” The movie took his popularity to a whole new level and created history by becoming the first superhero film ever to get nominated for an Oscar in the Best Picture category in 2019.

Boseman was last seen in Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods.”