MTV VMA performers will be partially exempt from Cuomo’s NYC coronavirus travel quarantine rules

Musicians heading to New York City to participate in the MTV Video Music Awards next weekend will be exempt from New York state’s coronavirus quarantine travel rules. 

VMA performers – scheduled to include Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Miley Cyrus and the Black Eyed Peas – have been granted a semi-exemption from the state’s Department of Health so that they can participate in the long-running, live awards show, the New York Post reported. 

This means the singers and their dancers and musicians won’t need to quarantine for 14 days even if traveling to the city from one of the 34 states on the self-quarantine list, which includes California and Florida, where many of the artists have homes. 

Musicians including Lady Gaga (left) and Ariana Grande (right) will be semi-exempt from New York state’s 14-day travel quarantine order if flying in to perform at the MTV VMAs

Artists, musicians and dancers will be allowed to work on the show, but will have to self-quarantine while they are not participating in the VMAs. Miley Cyrus (pictured) will perform

New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo has an executive order in place that says that anyone who violates the 14-day travel quarantine order can be fined up to $10,000 or be hit with up to 15 days in jail. 

The semi-exemption granted to those traveling to NYC to perform during the VMAs, however, means that while they can ‘participate in the production of the show,’ they’ll be limited to interacting ‘with other members of the cast and crew and will quarantine when not working,’ a Cuomo spokesperson told the newspaper. 

The VMAs were given the semi-exemption after they agreed to adhere to coronavirus safety protocols 

The semi-exemption was given to the VMAs after the show agreed to comply with ‘rigorous safety protocols including testing and screening and compliance checks by a special compliance officer.’

The VMAs will be under strict supervision by the NYPD’s Movie/TV Unit to ensure that the performers and their entourages will wear face masks and practice social distancing, NYC officials told the newspaper. 

A spokesperson for NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio noted that in addition to police doing ‘compliance checks during the production,’ the mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and Citywide Events has been ‘working in close coordination’ with VMA producers to make sure that coronavirus guidelines are being followed. 

Artists – including BTS (pictured) – are expected to perform on outdoors stages with limited or no audiences during the VMA show 

It’s unclear which artists will be flying to NYC to perform during the VMAs and which will be doing it from a soundstage in LA. The Weekend (pictured) is one of the VMA performers

Lady Gaga (right) and Ariana Grande (left) will be performing their hit song, Rain on Me, during the VMAs

The VMA performers are expected to put on their stage numbers at outdoors locations around NYC and on a soundstage in Los Angeles, which will be attended by either limited or no audiences during the award show’s broadcast on August 30.  

It’s unclear yet which of the VMA performers will be travel in to NYC or what states they will be traveling from.  

Some artists have already dropped out of the show due to apparent ‘logistical hurdles.’ 

On Friday, a source close to the VMAs told Variety that scheduled performers Roddy Ricch and J Balvin had pulled out of their slots.  

‘As with every awards show, there are always last-minute talent changes. That said, this year has more logistical hurdles than most and the health and safety of our employees and partners is of the utmost importance,’ the source told the entertainment news outlet.