Though host Russell Brand’s opening monologue was sexually charged, it did not feature the edgy content necessary to rival last year’s controversy. Unluckily (or luckily, depending on your level of cynicism) for MTV, there was no way this year’s MTV Video Music Awards ceremony was going off without a media-friendly story.
In the midst of expressing appreciation for winning the Best Female music video award–the first of the night–Taylor Swift (for “You Belong with Me”) found herself interrupted by “Love Lockdown” rapper Kanye West. West, who is no stranger to offering candid criticism during awards shows, ripped on the voting process for not awarding Beyonce’s acclaimed “Single Ladies” video with the top female prize.
West handed the microphone back to Swift, but the country star, visibly rattled by what took place, said nothing (or at least nothing that was picked up by the television broadcast–she did appear to say a final “thank you” to the live crowd).