Robin Williams Tribute at The MTV VMAs With Coldplay’s ‘A Sky Full of Stars’

Robin Williams Tribute at The MTV VMAs With Coldplay’s ‘A Sky Full of Stars’
A tribute to late actor Robin Williams on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA), August 24, 2014 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
Kristina Skorbach
8/25/2014
Updated:
7/18/2015

At this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, two very well-reported recent deaths were recognized with short tributes. On Sunday August 24, 2014, MTV payed tribute to the late actor Robin Williams, as well as Michael Brown, a man shot during the protests in Ferguson, Mo..

Just before the commercial break, two thirds into the show, without any introductions, or presenters taking the stage, or prior messages, the awards show was paused for a photo montage of Williams, who reportedly committed suicide on August 11, 2014. 

The compilation of photos, which lasted about 30 seconds, was accompanied by Coldplay song “A Sky Full of Stars.”

Coldplay released “A Sky Full of Stars” on May 2, 2014, as the third single before the launch of their studio album on May 16, 2014. 

Also earlier in the evening the VMA’s “ observed the death of Michael Brown and the events in Ferguson, Mo. with a moment of silence,” reported Billboard.

Watch the video of the tribute here.