Internet personalities once again made the jump from your computer and mobile screens to your TV screen on Sunday night during Fox's Teen Choice Awards, but voting drama caused controversy for their categories and stole some of the festivity's spotlight.
Among the winners were YouTube stars Tyler Oakley and Bethany Mota for Choice Web Star in the male and female categories; Cameron Dallas for Choice Viner; and Vine-star-turned-record-label-artist Shawn Mendes for Choice Web Star: Music.
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The #TeamInternet and #TylerOakley hashtags as well as "Congrats to Tyler Oakley" quickly became worldwide trending topics on Twitter after he accepted his award.
Major love to ALL my Internet friends - we are a part of something really big right now and y'all inspire me so much. #TeamInternet— Tyler Oakley (@tyleroakley) August 11, 2014
But the fan-voted awards show also incited angry tweets accompanied by such hashtags as #TeensDontHaveAChoiceAwards and #CameronIsOURWinner (in reference to popular Vine user Cameron Dallas, who didn't take home the prize for Choice Web Star).
While the Teen Choice Awards are considered an online fan-voted contest, nominees like Dallas and fans argued that votes don't really matter after all:
so basically the last 6 days we voted our asses off for our favs & they didn't even count #TeensDontHaveAChoiceAwards pic.twitter.com/IZuzZTv4mZ— kmeezy (@mahoneisbabe) August 11, 2014
#TCAs2014 used all of us for promotion. What a joke.— Carter Reynolds (@Mr_Carterr) August 11, 2014
So is it rigged? TCA rules say "winners are determined based on the nominees in each category with the highest number of eligible votes," but the fine print also says "Teenasaurus Rox reserves the right to choose the winner from the top four vote generators."
Despite the voting controversy, the mainstream exposure of the web stars is a win for #TeamInternet, even if TCA's voting process are questionable.
How this new infusion of web personalities will influence the TV ratings is yet to be seen, but they'll likely give the awards show a ratings boost as their millions of rabid social media followers were watching and tweeting, for better or worse.
The awards show celebrates the best in music, film, television, sports, fashion, comedy, video games and the web. Here are the winners in the web categories:
Choice Web Star: Male
I don't even know what I said on stage?! I just started screaming about MY PEOPLE and telling everyone to follow me on Twitter - TYPICAL.— Tyler Oakley (@tyleroakley) August 11, 2014
WINNER: Tyler Oakley
Cameron Dallas
Connor Franta
Joey Graceffa
Shawn Mendes
Troye Sivan
Choice Web Star: Female
This is not my award. It's OURS. you guys are such a big part of this and I want to thank you all for your dedication to this family — Bethany Mota ∞ (@BethanyMota) August 11, 2014
WINNER: Bethany Mota
Grace Helbig
iJustine
Michelle Phan
Andrea Russett
Zoe Sugg (“Zoella”)
Choice Viner
I'd actually like to share that award with people who definitely deserve it though, @JackJackJohnson @jackgilinsky @TheMattEspinosa— Cameron Dallas (@camerondallas) August 10, 2014
WINNER: Cameron Dallas
Matt Espinosa
Jack and Jack
Shawn Mendes
Lele Pons
Choice Web Star: Music
I won ! Thats insane !!! Thankyou guys so much ! Holy poo ❤️— Shawn Mendes (@ShawnMendes) August 11, 2014
WINNER: Shawn Mendes
Boyce Avenue
Cimorelli
Christina Grimmie
Megan and Liz
Lindsey Stirling
Choice Web Star: Comedy
WE CANT BELIEVE WE WON A TEEN CHOICE AWARD!!! THANK U GUYS SO MUCH THIS MEANS THE WORLD TO US!! U GUYS ARE THE WINNERS, LOVE U ALL— O2L (@Our2ndLife) August 11, 2014
WINNER: Our2ndLife
Colleen Ballinger (“Miranda Sings”)
Hannah Hart
Jenn McAllister (“Jennxpenn”)
Anthony Quintal (“Lohanthony”)
Brittani Louise Taylor
Choice Web Collaboration
I WON— Troye Sivan (@troyesivan) August 11, 2014
Just won another Teen Choice Award for my video with @troyesivan... can anyone tell me what is going on? I am not used to this.— Tyler Oakley (@tyleroakley) August 11, 2014
WINNER: Troye Sivan & Tyler Oakley – The “Boyfriend” Tag
Danisnotonfire & AmazingPhil – The Photo Booth Challenge
Alfie Deyes (“Pointless Blog”) and Ariana Grande – Ariana Does My Makeup
PrankvsPrank and Jack & Finn Harries (“Jacksgap”) – Twin Teleport Prank
Anthony Quintal (“Lohanthony”), Jack Baran (“Thatsojack), Andrew Lowe, Jenn McAllister (“Jennxpenn) and Rebecca
Black – Fab Five in Real Life
Choice Web Star: Fashion/Beauty
WINNER: Zoe Sugg (“Zoella”)
Elle and Blaire Fowler
Bunny Meyer (“Grav3yardgirl”)
Bethany Mota
Ingrid Nilsen (“Missglamorazzi”)
Michelle Phan
Choice Web Star: Gaming
WINNER: PewDiePie
Tiffany Garcia (“IHasCupquake”)
Joey Graceffa
iJustine
Toby Turner
BONUS: YouTube Singer Peter Hollens Earns Record Deal From Sony Music
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