Craziest VMAs Moments Ever

The two artists have a history of bickering with one another. This particular dispute started when Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” wasn’t nominated for video of the year in a category that did include other nominees like Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, who also was the VMAs host that year. Minaj tweeted her frustration over the snub: “When the ‘other’ girls drop a video that breaks records and impacts culture they get that nomination” and “If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year.” For her part, Swift replied: “@NICKIMINAJ I’ve done nothing but love & support you. It’s unlike you to pit women against each other. Maybe one of the men took your slot.”

Cyrus, meanwhile, was asked about Minaj in an interview with The New York Times. “You know what I always say? Not that this is jealousy, but jealousy does the opposite of what you want it to — that’s a yoga mantra,” she replied. “People forget that the choices that they make and how they treat people in life affect you in a really big way. If you do things with an open heart and you come at things with love, you would be heard and I would respect your statement. But I don’t respect your statement because of the anger that came with it. And it’s not anger like, ‘Guys, I’m frustrated about some things that are a bigger issue.’ You made it about you. Not to sound like a bitch, but that’s like, ‘Eh, I didn’t get my VMA.’”

She continued: “What I read sounded very Nicki Minaj, which, if you know Nicki Minaj is not too kind. It’s not very polite. I think there’s a way you speak to people with openness and love. You don’t have to start this pop star against pop star war. It became Nicki Minaj and Taylor in a fight, so now the story isn’t even on what you wanted it to be about. Now you’ve just given E! News ‘Catfight! Taylor and Nicki Go at It.’”

Cut to the VMAs just a few days later. Minaj won for best hip-hop video and then turned to Cyrus and said: “Back to this bitch that had a lot to say about me the other day in the press. Miley, what’s good?” Cyrus responded: “Hey, we’re all in this industry. We all do interviews, and we know how they manipulate shit. Nicki, congratu-fucking-lations.”