Rap star Kanye West ruined a teenage star’s moment as he stormed the stage at last night’s MTV Awards to complain she didn’t deserve her award.
Taylor Swift, one of the biggest-selling stars in the US, had been delighted to land the best female prize for You Belong With Me at MTV’s Video Music Awards 2009.
But West crashed the stage at Radio City Music Hall in New York and told the crowd the award should have gone to Beyonce.
The event is one of the biggest dates in the US music calendar and the Russel Brand-hosted show featured spectacular tributes to Michael Jackson, as well as Lady GaGa faking her own death in a blood-soaked stunt.
But it was West’s ungallant appearance which stole the limelight.
Swift, 19, had been thrilled to pick up the first award of the show, and said: “I always wondered what it would be like to maybe win one of these some day, but never actually thought it would happen.”
But West then hijacked the appearance, bundling up to the microphone to declare: “Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’ll let you finish, but Beyonce has one of the best videos of all time. One of the best videos of all time!”
Beyonce’s promo for Single Ladies was eventually given the top title of the evening, winning Video Of The Year. And as she went up to collect her prize,
Beyonce invited Swift back on stage, saying: “I want Taylor to come up here and have her moment.”
The pair — both wearing red dresses — embraced and Swift completed her interrupted speech.
Speaking backstage, the wholesome young singer — who had earlier entertained crowds waiting outside the venue — said: “I was standing on stage and I was really excited because I’d just won the award, and then I was really excited because Kanye West was on the stage — and then I wasn’t so excited any more after that.
“I don’t know him and I’ve never met him... I don’t want to start anything because I had a great night tonight.”
West later apologised for his impromptu outburst and said: “I’m sooooo sorry to Taylor Swift and her fans and her mom. I spoke to her mother right after and she said the same thing my mother would’ve said. She is very talented.”
The show opened with a personal tribute to the late Michael Jackson from Madonna, accusing herself and the world of “abandoning him”. The show also featured Jackson’s sister Janet, who performed her part of the song Scream which she released as a duet with Michael in 1995.
Host Russell Brand played it safe, with his own tribute to Jackson. He did take one pop at the US, however, voicing his support for Mr Obama’s proposed healthcare reforms.
Talking about the difference between the UK and the US, he said: “Instead o truck, we say lorry, instead of elevator we say lift, and instead of letting people die in the street we have free healthcare.”