VMAs most outrageous moments of all time

VMAs most outrageous moments of all time. Sara Moniuszko, Erin Jensen USA TODAY.

Key points

• Pop icon Madonna, who performed at the first VMAs more than 40 years ago, leads the 2026 nominees with 11 nods thanks to her "Confessions II" album.
• While accepting the Vanguard Award at the 2015 VMAs (presented to him by none other than Taylor Swift.
• Cyrus reflected on the criticism she received after the performance on an episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in 2013.
• Snoop Dogg is due to host the ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles Sept.
• When the award for best female video went to Taylor Swift over Beyoncé, her acceptance speech was hijacked by a disgruntled Kanye West.

VMAs most outrageous moments of all time. Sara Moniuszko, Erin Jensen USA TODAY. The most iconic MTV VMA red carpet looks of all time.

Since the first ceremony in 1984, the VMAs has become known as the award show where stars aren't afraid to take major fashion risks, turning the red carpet into the ultimate spectacle. Unbranded – Entertainment Vertical. The MTV Video Music Awards are Sunday night!

Snoop Dogg is due to host the ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles Sept. 27 in Los Angeles on CBS.

Pop icon Madonna, who performed at the first VMAs more than 40 years ago, leads the 2026 nominees with 11 nods thanks to her "Confessions II" album. Taylor Swift follows with nine while Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter earned seven nominations each.

In celebration of the cable channel that has given us music videos, spring break envy and numerous reality stars' careers, we've assembled 10 of the most OMG moments from the awards ceremony throughout the years. 1. Kanye West announces 2020 presidential bid (2015).

While accepting the Vanguard Award at the 2015 VMAs (presented to him by none other than Taylor Swift. This person he infamously interrupted at the 2009 VMAs), the rapper took the time to announce another pursuit outside music.

"And, yes, as you probably could have guessed by this moment, I have decided in 2020 to run for president, " he remarked. 2. Beyoncé's 'Love on Top' performance (2011).

At the end of an energetic performance of "Love On Top, " the Queen B dropped the mic (literally) and made public her bump (she was pregnant with Blue Ivy at the time) as the crowd went bananas and doting dad-to-be Jay-Z beamed. 3. Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift (2009).

It's a moment that still makes us shudder. When the award for best female video went to Taylor Swift over Beyoncé, her acceptance speech was hijacked by a disgruntled Kanye West.

Sometimes it just has to be created clear that "Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time."

Meanwhile, the next year, Swift performed "Innocent." In an interview with New York Magazine, Swift led readers to believe she might be able to obtain past the incident: "It doesn't really add anything good if I start victimizing myself and complaining about things." Of course that was before the "Famous" feud. 4. Britney Spears' lip lock with Madonna (2003).

During a performance with pop stars Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, Madonna planted kisses on her cohorts. As cameras rapidly cut away to a reaction shot from Spears' ex Justin Timberlake, Madge's smooch with Aguilera was largely overlooked. 5. Britney Spears' slithering 'I'm A Slave 4 U' (2001).

Spears surprised the audience when she performed with a serpent while singing her sultry "I'm a Slave 4 U." In 2016, MTV tracked down the Burmese python and the snake's trainer, Mike Hano. This person shared his memory of working with the ab-tastic singer.

"She was afraid of the snake, but she forced herself to handle it, and she did a really great job, " Hano remarked. 6. Miley Cyrus twerking on Robin Thicke (2013).

It has been a long road for Miley Cyrus to obtain to secure her flowers. Regarding a decade ago she was grinding on Robin Thicke in a peach bra top and matching short shorts while they belted out "Blurred Lines."

"No one cares about the man behind the booty, " Cyrus remarked. "You only care regarding the one that's shaking it. Double standard." 7. Lady Gaga's meat dress (2010).

For context, the singer turned heads on the red carpet in her meat dress – and spurred questions and backlash from animal rights activists. Gaga explained her style choice as meaning to protest the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gay soldiers.

"What I was really trying to say was 'Dead meat is dead meat, ' and anyone that's willing to take their life and die for their country is the same, " she informed CNN's Anderson Cooper. "You're not gay and dead, straight and dead, you are dead." 8. Nicki Minaj seeing 'what's good' with Miley Cyrus (2015).

Things heated up between Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj in a call out that left us speechless. The rapper created her iconic comment while accepting the award for best hip hop music video.

"And now. Back to this (expletive) that had a lot to say about me in the press, " Minaj remarked onstage. "Miley, what's good?"

Minaj was referring to critical comments Cyrus had created in a cover story for The New York Times concerning Minaj's frustration over the lack of diversity in nominations for music video of the year award for that year. 9. Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley's kiss (1994).

Another memorable moment was the kiss between Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley. The King of Pop kissed his then-wife onstage to a roar of cheers.

"Just think, nobody thought this would last, " Jackson remarked at the time, but it didn't. The couple split just a few years afterwards, in 1996. 10. Lil' Kim's revealing ensemble (1999).

Last, but certainly not least, is Lil' Kim's out-there outfit. The rapper donned a purple, one-shoulder body suit that exposed her breast. It she covered up with a matching pasty.

In practice, the look went down in history as one of the most memorable getups from the award show, even inspiring others to copy her look: Miley Cyrus re-created the look for Halloween in 2013. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around vMAs most outrageous moments of all time point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.