Photos: MTV Video Music Awards 2014: Best and Worst
Miley Cyrus has a message for you, music fans. One year after her infamous twerking performance she has “retwired the twerk.” (Yes, she said retwired). “It’s not about twerking, it’s about music.” So ... just grow up. (Matt Sayles / Invision / Associated Press)
Nicki Minaj had a wardrobe malfunction during her performance with Ariana Grande and Jessie J and was forced to hold it closed for part of the song. An odd bit of modesty from the signer after writhing on stage in a Poison Ivy bikini moments before. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
Technical malfunctions abound! During Snoop Dogg and Gwen Stefani’s appearance, a mysterious man’s voice could be heard on the sound system saying “Taylor won. Taylor won.” Or perhaps it was “Taylor one. Taylor one?” Commence debate. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
Taylor Swift disappeared from camera view twice during her performance of “Shake It Off” and didn’t do a single costume change. In the current award show performance climate, this is a revolutionary move. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
Jim Carrey, left, and Jeff Daniels bantered a bit on stage with some dumb shenanigans. But after making Daniels shake his head like a starting motor, Carrey muttered, “I hope [Aaron] Sorkin isn’t watching.” Don’t worry, “The Newsroom” has already filmed its final episode. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
There are a lot of crass, stupid and awkard moments the VMAs. But somehow Common managed to transcend all that when he spoke about the recent events in Ferguson, Mo. Not everyone in the Forum may have been paying attention, but it was a powerful bit of TV. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
At three performances during the show -- her third alongside Usher -- Nicki Minaj became the MTV VMA MVP. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
Awkward moment of the night: Just moments after Trey Songz made a lewd joke about being behind a lady (using Nina Dobrev as a prop), he gave a 70th birthday shout-out to his grandmother. Who knows, maybe granny’s hip to the lady sexing jokes, but we doubt it. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
Headscratcher of the night: Pop singer Lorde won the award for best rock video. Not sure why that’s a headscratcher? Go listen to it. Now do you understand? (Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images)
While heading into a commercial break, the VMAs mysteriously decided to play an unexplained Robin Williams tribute, showing a handful of stock photos of the comedian and a snippet of a Coldplay song. Everyone loved Williams, sure. But the nobody Vine tweens got more screentime. (Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images)
Miley Cyrus won video of the year for “Wrecking Ball,” and sent a homeless teen on stage to read a short speech calling attention to Los Angeles’ large homeless and runaway teen population. Cyrus sat just off stage, visibly emotional while he read. The audience just whooped like normal. Maybe it reached somebody? (Mark Davis / Getty Images)
Beyonce closed out the show with a massive multimedia medley of her hits. For 15 minutes she rocked the crowd. Some danced along, some wept, some say they died. But Beyonce could also bring them back from the dead. She’s that talented. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
After her performance, hubbie Jay-Z came on stage with the couple’s daughter, Blue Ivy, to present Beyonce with the Video Vanguard award. A carefully stage managed moment to rebut rampant divorce rumors? Interested parties will be going over this footage like it was the Zapruder film. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
