Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee are seen at the MTV Video Music Awards (AP Photo) MTV Debacle 2007 – Lowlights: VMA Losses Spark Another Kanye Tantrum - Timberlake Pleads for More Videos on MTV & Awards List
Posted: September 10, 2007 LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Sour grapes from Kanye West -- again. Shut out at the Video Music Awards, Kanye West threw a tantrum Sunday night in front of media and crew backstage as the MTV show was ending. West, waiting for an elevator in a crowded hallway, began yelling about losing all five categories for which he was nominated. "That's two years in a row, man ... give a black man a chance," West said, stomping around his entourage and directing his comments at a reporter. "I'm trying hard man, I have the ... number one record, man."
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West said he never will return to MTV. The rapper was nomination for five awards, including male artist of the year. This is the latest in a series of awards show outburst for West. Last year, he crashed the stage at the MTV Europe Awards after not winning for best video. Timberlake Pleads for More Videos on MTV At the MTV Video Music Awards, Justin Timberlake is the equivalent of Jack Nicholson at the Oscars. Though just 26-years-old, Timberlake appeared like an old veteran at the VMAs in Las Vegas. Chris Brown's impressive dance routine had Timberlake feeling his age. "Nobody likes to be reminded that they're getting older," Timberlake said while accepting his award for best male artist. "And whatever (18-year-old R&B singer) Chris Brown just did, reminded me how much I'm getting older, 'cause damn." Timberlake added he was excited to see a new generation of artists, a pronouncement that a 26-year-old former boy-band member can only make at the youth-obsessed VMAs. Timberlake also twice asked MTV to revert to its video-playing ways of the ol' days. "Play more damn videos. We don't want to see the Simpsons on reality television," said Timberlake, referring to Jessica and Ashley Simpson. "Play more videos." Awards List Winners of the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards: Video of the Year: Rihanna, "Umbrella," featuring Jay-Z Male Artist of the Year: Justin Timberlake Female Artist of the Year: Fergie Quadruple Threat of the Year: Justin Timberlake Best Group: Fallout Boy, "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" Monster Single of the Year: Rihanna, "Umbrella" Most Earthshattering Collaboration: Beyonce and Shakira, "Beautiful Liar" Best Editing: Ken Mowe for Gnarls Barkley's "Smiley Faces" Best Director: Samuel Bayer for Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around ... Comes Around" Best Choreography: Marty Kudelka for Justin Timberlake's "Let Me Talk to You/My Love" Best New Artist: Gym Class Heroes
Kid Rock Cited After MTV Awards Tussle
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Kid Rock was cited by police for misdemeanor battery after a tussle with Tommy Lee in the audience at the MTV Video Music Awards. The 36-year-old rock-rapper received the citation after police reported to the Palms Hotel and Casino shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday and interviewed people at the scene, Officer Bill Cassell said. Kid Rock wasn't taken into custody, he said. Both Lee and Kid Rock are ex-husbands of Pamela Anderson, who was a presenter at the show. MTV VJ Sway said during the post-show that he saw Kid Rock walk up to the 44-year-old Motley Crue drummer, who was sitting next to Sean "Diddy" Combs, and "deck him." Another eyewitness, rap producer Rich Nice, said although Kid Rock threw the only blows that landed -- a backhand slap and a punch -- Lee was the instigator. "It looked like Tommy Lee initiated it because Kid Rock was ignoring him," said Nice, who was two tables away. "And Tommy Lee kind of antagonized him. And then when Tommy Lee stood up, it looked a little weird, like `Yo, what?'" "When Tommy stands up is when Kid hit him the first time with a backhand," Nice continued. "And then Tommy Lee looked like he was trying to get at him to aggressively retaliate and then Kid Rock hits Tommy Lee again -- bong. And then security grabs Tommy Lee in a headlock and pulls him off." Security guards let Kid Rock stay for the rest of the show while Lee was dragged out. Cassell said Kid Rock could face up to six months in jail, but that it would be uncommon for someone facing similar charges to receive such a lengthy sentence. Kanye: MTV Exploited Britney for Ratings
NEW YORK (AP) -- Kanye West blames MTV for Britney Spears' less than stellar performance at the Video Music Awards. "Man, they were just trying to get ratings, and they knew she wasn't ready and they exploited her," the 29-year-old rapper said Tuesday on Sirius Satellite Radio's "The Morning Mash Up." The network made a "bad move" by having the troubled pop star open Sunday's event in Las Vegas, said West, who feels he should have kicked off the show with "Stronger," the first single from his new album, "Graduation." "They exploited her, they played me and I really don't mess with MTV," he said. Spears, 25, looked unprepared while performing her new song, "Gimme More," to a bewildered audience of her music industry peers. She seemed nervous and, at times, stopped singing altogether. West said he wanted to perform "Stronger" on the show's main stage _ where R&B hotshot Chris Brown wowed the crowd with Michael Jackson-esque dance moves _ but complied when he was asked to host a suite party. West said it was a blow to the ego when Justin Timberlake, who also hosted a suite party, ended up "on the big stage" to give the closing performance with Timbaland and Nelly Furtado. "Those are the big things, and you know what I do man, I really made the song `Stronger,' you know, for stadiums," he said. MTV spokesman David French didn't immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment. West _ who threw a tantrum backstage after losing all five categories for which he was nominated _ said he has bonded with 50 Cent over what they view as disrespectful behavior from MTV. "So why do you have me do `Stronger' in a suite, but you end the show with Justin?" he said. "I looked at 50 like, yo, we need to help each other as much as possible." 50 Cent has said he'd stop making solo records if West's new album outsells his "Curtis" CD in their first week out. Both albums were released Tuesday. |