The 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in Paris has been canceled due to escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), which were planned to take place in Paris on November 5, have been officially canceled by Paramount Global. The cancellation was due to the “volatility of world events,” with the current violence in the Middle East playing a crucial influence.

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Following a number of unsettling incidents, France, the event’s prospective host, has been placed on high alert. These include the tragic murder of a schoolteacher on October 7, following a Hamas-led strike on Israel. The assailant used a knife in the attack, raising fears and prompting the country to tighten security measures. Recent security threats prompted brief evacuations at several French airports, including Nice, where many delegates attending the Mipcom event were flying.

“Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life,” a Paramount spokesperson said in response to a question about the decision.

The representative went on to say that the MTV EMAs are normally a celebration of worldwide music. However, given the present crisis in Israel and Gaza, they believed that such a celebration was inappropriate. The MTV EMAs have been delayed for November 2024, according to Paramount Global.

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Since their establishment in 1994, the MTV European Music Awards have been a fixture in the music business. These awards, which have typically been given in a different country each year, reward some of the biggest stars in international music. The cancellation of the 2023 event adds to the expanding list of events impacted by the Middle East’s intensifying tensions. Notably, the Cairo International Film Festival has also rescheduled their event for 2023, making it the second major media event to be impacted by the continuing turmoil.