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, Canada鈥檚 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 鈥渓and back鈥� and 鈥渟ave the green belt,鈥� a reference to Ontario鈥檚 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 year鈥檚 fan choice award with a few choice words and another expletive: 鈥淣obody try anything this time or the Canadian is going to come out of me and I鈥檒l (mess) a bitch up.鈥�
The unexpected moment set the tone for an energetic Junos that saw the Weeknd鈥檚 smash hit 鈥淒awn FM鈥� 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 鈥淪acrifice.鈥�
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:
鈥淚 am so honoured to be recognized like this from my home country that I love so much. I鈥檓 so humbled by all this and could never thank fans enough,鈥� he wrote.
Other winners included Jessie Reyez who picked up contemporary R&B recording of the year for 鈥淵essie鈥� as her tearful father looked on and Tobi who won rap album/EP of the year for 鈥淪hall I Continue?鈥�
Newcomer Preston Pablo, who sings 鈥淔lowers Need Rain,鈥� 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 鈥� and a guitar 鈥� in an opening bit where host and Marvel star Simu Liu showed off his vocal chops with a cover of Nickelback鈥檚 鈥淧hotograph.鈥�
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 鈥渉ave changed the game forever.鈥�
In his speech, a smitten Chad Kroeger reflected on his band鈥檚 humble beginnings in Hanna, Alta., saying they 鈥渉ad no idea what we were doing and most of the time still don鈥檛.鈥�
鈥淏ut everything we did led us to this moment right here,鈥� 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 鈥渆very step to avoid interruptions鈥� to the program, but that live broadcasts always include risks.
鈥淲e hope tonight鈥檚 brief disruption doesn鈥檛 take away from the accomplishments of this year鈥檚 performers, winners and nominees,鈥� they added.
Yet, artists continued to buzz about the topless fan backstage, with Lavigne telling the press room she was confident it was 鈥済oing down as one of the highlights.鈥�
Liu, who signed off the show saying 鈥渟orry about the boobs,鈥� also joked about it backstage: 鈥淚f you had told me before I hosted there would be someone who would take their shirt off at the Junos, and it wouldn鈥檛 be me, I would be shocked.鈥�
鈥擠avid Friend, The Canadian Press
