Did MTV secretly drop Michael Jackson's name from the Video Vanguard Award?

Page Six

Page Six first reported last month that MTV was considering dropping Jackson's name from the VMAs' Video Vanguard Award in wake of the Leaving Neverland sexual molestation controversy. But MTV, which renamed the award in his honor in 1991, called it the "Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award" on Aug. 12 in announcing that Missy Elliott would be this year's recipient. Yet Monday's VMAs ceremony omitted Michael Jackson's name in presenting the award, even though Elliott said in her acceptance speech: "The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award means so much to me." MTV's YouTube video of Elliott's speech also omits Jackson's name. Yet MTV's website on Monday described Elliott as "the newest recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award." MTV has yet to comment on the VMAs omission.