Nicki Minaj called Miley Cyrus out at the MTV Video Music Awards after the 22-year-old said in an interview that the rapper was being a poor sport about not receiving a nomination for video of the year.
After collecting best hip hop video for Anaconda on Sunday, Minaj told the audience at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles: “And now back to this [expletive] that had a lot to say about me a lot in the press. Miley, what’s good?”
Minaj’s microphone was cut off, and Cyrus fired back with “we all know how they manipulate” words during interviews, referencing a pre-VMAs interview in the New York Times. Cyrus then stumbled over her words as she tried to read from cue cards about voting for the artist to watch award.
“I lost this award in 2008 and I was fine with it. Whatever! Because it’s no big deal. It’s just an award and I persevered,” she yelled, appearing to look over at Minaj.
She ended with: “Congratulations Nicki.”
In the recent interview, Cyrus criticised Minaj for her “pop star war” with Taylor Swift that began in July. On the show, however, rapper ended her issues with Swift: The performers joined forces onstage.
After Minaj entertained the audience with her upbeat Trini Dem Girls, Swift joined the rapper during her performance of the The Night Is Still Young.
Swift wore a bright red dress that mirrored Minaj’s ensemble. Swift then performed some of her hit, Bad Blood, as Minaj danced around her. They closed with a hug.
Swift, who is the top nominee with 10, traded words with Minaj over Twitter when the VMA nominees were announced in July. Minaj, who had one of the most viewed videos of the year with Anaconda, is not up for video of the year, and she tweeted that slim women easily earn top nominations and said black female entertainers don’t get enough credit for their influence on pop culture. Swift thought the rapper was referring to her and they traded words online, but later apologised.
Swift’s nominations include video of the year, best collaboration, song of summer and more. She won best pop video and female video.
Cyrus is hosting the VMAs two years after she stole the show with a risque, but memorable performance with Robin Thicke, and a year after winning the top prize for Wrecking Ball. She took a selfie with people in the audience and asked them to yell: “Marijuana.”
“Ellen, you ain’t got nothing on this,” she said.
Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk earned the first Moonman in the live telecast for best male video.
“Uptown Funk forever! Thank you!” Mars yelled.
