NEW YORK (AP) — Miley Cyrus had the most memorable moment at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The provocative pop singer was the hot topic at Sunday night’s show. She eclipsed Lady Gaga’s opening performance of her new single, Katy Perry’s closing rendition of her latest hit and Kanye West’s artsy set. The 20-year-old even grabbed more attention than Justin Timberlake’s performance with his ‘N Sync band mates.
After performing her edgy hit, “We Can’t Stop,” she sang the first verse of Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and then grinded on the R&B singer in a nude bikini.
“Amazing. I thought it was awesome,” Selena Gomez said of Cyrus’ performance backstage. “I love Robin Thicke, too, so I like that they collabo’d.”
Twitter said early Monday that Cyrus was mentioned 4.5 million times on the social network site, ahead of Timberlake’s 2.9 million mentions.
Though they were nominated for four awards each, Thicke and Cyrus walked away empty-handed Sunday night.
Timberlake earned three awards, including video of the year and best male video for “Mirrors.”
As Timberlake performed a medley of his solo hits, former band mates JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick emerged to sing some lines from their hits “Girlfriend” and “Bye, Bye, Bye.”
Even rappers Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J admitted on the red carpet they were excited to see ‘N Sync hit the stage.
“Half of the moonmen I’ve ever won, I won with those four guys right there,” Timberlake said of his band mates when he accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award. “So above all else, I’m going to share this — we can keep it my house — but I’m going to share this award with them.”
Taylor Swift also turned heads. The 23-year-old, who won best female video, appeared to utter an expletive to Gomez when Swift’s rumored ex, One Direction member Harry Styles, was onstage. The boy band earned boos when it won best song of the summer for “Best Song Ever,” beating out Gomez, Thicke, Cyrus, Daft Punk and Calvin Harris.
Rapper A Rocky also provided an awkward moment when standing next to professional basketball player Jason Collins while announcing Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ performance. Collins, who recently said he was gay, spoke about coming out as A Rocky looked uncomfortable.
But that was followed with touching performance of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ same-sex anthem “Same Love.” It featured the song’s original vocalist, Mary Lambert, as well as Jennifer Hudson. The video won best video with a social message, while their hit “Can’t Hold Us” won best hip-hop video and best cinematography.
Bruno Mars, who won best male video and choreography for “Treasure,” twirled with his two awards backstage, while Gomez admitted she thought Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” should have won best pop video instead of her seductive “Come & Get It.”
Lady Gaga kicked off the awards show in a less dramatic fashion compared to her past performances. She did change her clothes — and hair — various times onstage while dancing and singing her new hit “Applause.” She finished in a thong, revealing her toned body.
Katy Perry closed the VMAs under the Brooklyn Bridge in a boxing ring, singing her smash hit “Roar.”
