Shakira is a “Beautiful Liar” and now a recipient of the MTV Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
The Colombian-born, 46, artist kicked off her nearly 10-minute celebratory performance Tuesday at the 2023 MTV VMAs with “She Wolf,” before grabbing an electric guitar for “Objection (Tango),” and dancing with knives in each hand before “Whenever, Wherever.”
The New Jersey crowd belted out “Hips Don’t Lie,” in which Shakira repeated the same tongue wag that went viral during her 2020 Super Bowl halftime show.
She ended her set by crowd surfing during “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”
While she recivved an in-house standing ovation, fans on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, questioned if she was lip-syncing.
“[Shakira] might have been lip-synching but she still performed her a– off,” one viewer quipped.
Earlier in the night, Shakira’s sons, Milan, 10, and Sasha, 8, who she shares with ex Gerard Piqué, joined her on the pink carpet. The boys donned matching Versace black-and-gold tracksuits.
During her acceptance speech, the “Waka Waka” singer thanked her parents and her sons for “making me feel that Mama can do it all.”
“I especially want to share this award with my fans,” Shakira added. “Through thick and thin — thank you so much for being my army, and helping me fight all my battles.”
According to Rolling Stone in 2021, Shakira is the “best-selling female Latin artist ever.” She has won three Grammy awards in her career, including one in 2018 for her album, “El dorado,” which won “Best Latin Pop Album.”
Her first bilingual album, “Laundry Service,” debuted in 2001, coming in at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, per Time Magazine. It was also certified triple platinum.