From meat dresses to major pop feuds, relive the VMA controversies

One of the biggest — and most controversial — awards in pop music, the MTV Video Music Awards (MTV VMA) has been the stage for several performances, interviews and other moments that are considered controversial in the industry and remembered to this day.

Some of its most memorable moments are the appearance of singer Lady Gaga wearing a meat dress and the beginning of the “feud” between rapper Kanye West and singer Taylor Swift.

Below, the CNN recalls these and other major controversies of the VMA . Check it out!

Relive 6 VMA controversies

• Nirvana in 1992

Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic caused a stir in 1992 when he threw his bass guitar up in the air and failed to catch it, causing it to hit his head. The band also made headlines at that event by “circumventing” an order from the awards organization.

The band wanted to perform the controversial song “Rape Me”, which was not allowed by the VMAs. Instead, the members agreed to perform “Lithium”, but included an instrumental of the desired song in the track’s intro.

• Madonna and Courtney Love in 1995

The singers were the focus of controversy during an interview that Madonna gave about the compilation “Something to Remember”, which featured old songs along with a compilation of famous tracks from other albums.

While talking to interviewer Kurt Loder, she was interrupted by a compact thrown by Courtney Love. “She’s everyone’s favorite, go ahead and get it on,” the journalist said, while Madonna didn’t hide her anger: “Should we let her? No, please. Courtney is desperate for attention right now.”

• Madonna kissing Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in 2003

Almost two decades after Madonna caused a stir during a performance of “Like a Virgin”, she called on singers Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera to repeat the impact with the same song.

In the middle of the performance, Madonna kisses each of the artists. Right after kissing Britney, the VMA camera focuses on the reaction of singer Justin Timberlake, with whom Spears had just broken up.

• Taylor Swift and Kanye West in 2009

One of the most well-known feuds in the pop world, which continues to this day, is between Kanye West and Taylor Swift. And it all started at the 2009 VMAs, when the rapper went on stage and interrupted Taylor’s speech, who had won the category of “Best Female Music Video”, to say that the one who deserved the award was, in fact, the singer Beyoncé.

• Lady Gaga’s meat dress in 2010

Queen of boldness, especially at the beginning of her career, Lady Gaga had one of the most memorable appearances at the VMAs after she appeared at the event wearing an outfit made entirely of meat. The singer had already caused controversy at the previous year’s ceremony, when she sang Paparazzi covered in blood.

• Miley Cyrus in 2013

In her “rebellious” phase, Miley Cyrus delivered an iconic performance of “We Can’t Stop” at the VMAs. The song was a milestone in the singer’s career, as it marked her abandonment of the puritanical “mold” of Disney, the company where she was born as an artist.

Just wearing lingerie and with a lot of “twerking”, as the shaking was called at the time, Miley also sang with Robin Thicke, another controversial song by the singer, “Blurred Lines”.

This content was originally published in From meat dresses to major pop feuds, remember VMA controversies on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil