Singers Britney Spears and Madonna share a kiss during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall. (Reuters)
Miley Cyrus shocked viewers on Sunday when she performed at the MTV Video Music Awards. After twerking on stage with a group of people dressed in teddy bear suits and stripping to reveal a nude PVC two-piece, she gyrated on stage with Blurred Lines singer Robin Thicke and simulated sex with a foam finger.
But the MTV VMA stage has traditionally been used to bring the wow factor. So was Miley doing anything different? We selected five of some of the more surprising moments at the annual event so you can decide for yourself.
#5 – Ten years ago, legendary performer Madonna got intimate with singers Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and set the controversial tone for the VMAs. Dancing during the medley of songs Like a Virgin and Hollywood, Madonna dropped the jaws of the audience when she smooched the young singers. The snog was dubbed the “kiss of death” as both Spears and Aguilera’s careers hit dismal lows since that fateful night in 2010.
#4 – After all the years of swirling pregnancy rumours, singer Beyoncé set the record straight in 2011. During her Love on Top performance at the VMAs, Bey shocked the crowd by publicising her pregnancy when she stroked her baby bump.
#3 – After accepting an award for the video We Found Love, VMA audiences had a WTF-moment watching singer Rihanna share a peck with the man she laid charges of assault on just a few years prior. Despite pleading guilty to the charges, singer Chris Brown stood up to meet Rihanna and smacked her lips with an unexpected kiss.
#2 – Known to raise more than just a few ‘brows, singer Lady Gaga caused a stir when she accepted an award for video of the year in a raw meat dress. Much to the dismay of Peta and the Vegetarian Society, Gaga wore her fillet of steak fascinator and dress proudly as she accepted the award; singing her then unreleased track Born This Way. Gaga later explained she was trying to make a political statement.
#1 – Rapper Kanye West spoiled what might've been a sweet acceptance speech from Taylor Swift in 2009 when he snatched the mic from the singer. West didn't hold back from letting Swift, winner of the best female video award, know what he thought: "Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you. Imma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time; one of the best videos of all time!”?