The VMAs are known for trying to shock audiences with wild performances and unexpected collaborations, but despite all the carefully choreographed madness, a single unscripted line stole the show last night.
Nicki Minaj won Best Hip-Hop Video for ‘Anaconda’, the video that controversially did not receive a nomination for Video of the Year. When the nominations were announced in July, the rapper tweeted her belief that the omission was an example of the lack of recognition given to female artists of colour. “If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year," Minaj tweeted. "I'm not always confident. Just tired. Black women influence pop culture so much, but are rarely rewarded for it."
Minaj’s succinct tweets were attempting to spark an important dialogue about the contributions of black women to the music industry – however, her message about race and gender was lost on some. Taylor Swift initially took the tweets as a personal attack of her video ‘Bad Blood’ that received a Video of the Year nomination – though Minaj and Swift obviously buried the hatchet, as they performed together at the awards last night.
However, Minaj wasn’t playing nice with everyone, turning her attention to Miley Cyrus, who had spoken about Minaj to The New York Times during the week. Cyrus, who hosted the awards wearing faux dreadlocks, apparently missed the nuance and message of Minaj’s tweets, and claimed Minaj was merely nursing a bruised ego.
“…And it’s not anger like, ‘Guys, I’m frustrated about some things that are a bigger issue.’
You [Nicki Minaj] made it about you. Not to sound like a b***h, but that’s like, ‘Eh, I didn’t get my VMA.’
But she was ——
If you want to make it about race, there’s a way you could do that. But don’t make it just about yourself. Say: “This is the reason why I think it’s important to be nominated. There’s girls everywhere with this body type.”
I think she did say that ——
What I read sounded very Nicki Minaj, which, if you know Nicki Minaj is not too kind. It’s not very polite. I think there’s a way you speak to people with openness and love. You don’t have to start this pop star against pop star war. It became Nicki Minaj and Taylor in a fight, so now the story isn’t even on what you wanted it to be about. Now you’ve just given E! News ‘Catfight! Taylor and Nicki Go at It.’”
When Minaj took to the stage to accept her award, she thanked her pastor before turning to Cyrus.
“Now back to this bitch that had a lot to say about me the other day in the press. Miley, what’s good?”
Cyrus, stunned, replied, "We're all in this industry. We all do interviews and we all know how they manipulate shit. Nicki, congratu-fuckin-lations." The camera then cut back to Minaj who seemed to mouth back, "Bitch." Though the televised show’s three-second delay silenced the expletives, the artists’ heated exchange was very clear.
After Minaj's remarks, Cyrus resumed the show by noting that voting was still open for the Artist to Watch Award. "I lost this award back in 2008," Cyrus said, frustrated, and turning towards Minaj. "Whatever. Because it's no big deal! It's just an award, and I persevered!"
An MTV rep confirmed to reporters that the moment was unscripted.
Never a dull moment…