A wildly unpredictable Juno Awards unfolded on Monday as a topless protester charged the stage, leading to some feisty words from Avril Lavigne, while an absent the Weeknd emerged as the top winner this year.
With a few twists and turns, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 biggest celebration of music did away with its typically tame proceedings shortly after the broadcast got underway. Lavigne was interrupted by a topless woman who leapt on the stage wearing pasties with paint on her that read B次元官网网址渓and backB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渟ave the green belt,B次元官网网址� a reference to OntarioB次元官网网址檚 decision last fall to open a protected area of land for housing.
The pop-punk princess appeared blindsided by the crasher and proceeded to swear at her, demanding she get off the stage. The person was quickly escorted away by security.
Unfazed, Lavigne moved on to introduce a performance by Punjabi-Canadian singer and rapper AP Dhillon.
She returned later to accept this yearB次元官网网址檚 fan choice award with a few choice words and another expletive: B次元官网网址淣obody try anything this time or the Canadian is going to come out of me and IB次元官网网址檒l (mess) a bitch up.B次元官网网址�
The unexpected moment set the tone for an energetic Junos that saw the WeekndB次元官网网址檚 smash hit B次元官网网址淒awn FMB次元官网网址� earn him album of the year, adding to four wins he scored at a Saturday industry event, including artist and single of the year for B次元官网网址淪acrifice.B次元官网网址�
When pop singer Tyler Shaw announced the Toronto native, born Abel Tesfaye, was absent from the Junos to accept his prize, the crowd expressed their disappointment and began to boo.
Tesfaye did send a written statement provided to The Canadian Press by Junos organizers:
B次元官网网址淚 am so honoured to be recognized like this from my home country that I love so much. IB次元官网网址檓 so humbled by all this and could never thank fans enough,B次元官网网址� he wrote.
Other winners included Jessie Reyez who picked up contemporary R&B recording of the year for B次元官网网址淵essieB次元官网网址� as her tearful father looked on and Tobi who won rap album/EP of the year for B次元官网网址淪hall I Continue?B次元官网网址�
Newcomer Preston Pablo, who sings B次元官网网址淔lowers Need Rain,B次元官网网址� won breakthrough artist of the year.
Special honourees Nickelback were present throughout the night, even before they were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in a pre-recorded message by actor Ryan Reynolds.
Guitarist Ryan Peake offered a hand B次元官网网址� and a guitar B次元官网网址� in an opening bit where host and Marvel star Simu Liu showed off his vocal chops with a cover of NickelbackB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淧hotograph.B次元官网网址�
All of the band took the stage as Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid ushered them into the Hall of Fame, saying Nickelback is among those who B次元官网网址渉ave changed the game forever.B次元官网网址�
In his speech, a smitten Chad Kroeger reflected on his bandB次元官网网址檚 humble beginnings in Hanna, Alta., saying they B次元官网网址渉ad no idea what we were doing and most of the time still donB次元官网网址檛.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淏ut everything we did led us to this moment right here,B次元官网网址� he added.
A little later, the band returned to close out the broadcast with a medley of their biggest hits that included more than its share of fiery pyro effects.
After the Junos, the organizers issued a statement saying they take B次元官网网址渆very step to avoid interruptionsB次元官网网址� to the program, but that live broadcasts always include risks.
B次元官网网址淲e hope tonightB次元官网网址檚 brief disruption doesnB次元官网网址檛 take away from the accomplishments of this yearB次元官网网址檚 performers, winners and nominees,B次元官网网址� they added.
Yet, artists continued to buzz about the topless fan backstage, with Lavigne telling the press room she was confident it was B次元官网网址済oing down as one of the highlights.B次元官网网址�
Liu, who signed off the show saying B次元官网网址渟orry about the boobs,B次元官网网址� also joked about it backstage: B次元官网网址淚f you had told me before I hosted there would be someone who would take their shirt off at the Junos, and it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be me, I would be shocked.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擠avid Friend, The Canadian Press
