Justin Timberlake wins big at MTV awards, Miley Cyrus steals show
- Published
Justin Timberlake picked up the big prizes at the MTV video awards as he reunited with his 'N Sync bandmates on stage.
Timberlake won video of the year for Mirrors and collected the lifetime achievement award.
One Direction picked up song of the summer for Best Song Ever at the Brooklyn event.
But it was former Disney star Miley Cyrus who sparked a social media storm following her raunchy performance.
The 20-year-old shrugged off her Hannah Montana squeaky clean image by stripping down to a nude-coloured latex bikini, sporting a giant foam finger and dancing provocatively with R&B singer Robin Thicke as he sang Blurred Lines.
She also performed surrounded by giant bears as she sang her number one hit single We Can't Stop.
Timberlake and his team picked up a total of four awards - dubbed Moonmen - on the night, including best editing for Mirrors and best direction for the David Fincher-directed video Suit and Tie.
He also received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award, which is essentially a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to MTV culture.
Presented with the award by comedian Jimmy Fallon, Timberlake said: "I don't deserve this award. But I'm not going to give it back."
He also said he was sharing his award with his 'N Sync bandmates, who last performed together in 2002.
"Half of the Moonmen I've ever won, I won with those four guys right there," Timberlake said.
"So above all else, I'm going to share this, we can keep it my house, but I'm going to share this award with them."
Bruno Mars won best male video for Locked Out of Heaven, while Taylor Swift collected the female video prize for I Knew You Were Trouble.
Collecting her prize, the country singer said: "I want to thank the person who inspired this song, who knows exactly who he is, because now I've got one of these."
The MTV cameras then focused on her ex-boyfriend Harry Styles of One Direction fame.
US rapper Macklemore won the best video with a social message for Same Love, a song supporting gay rights and condemning homophobia in hip hop and rap culture.
After performing the song with his collaborator Ryan Lewis, he said "Gay rights are human rights. There is no separation.''
Macklemore, real name Ben Haggerty, and Lewis also won best hip hop video for Can't Hold Us.
Lady Gaga, who was back performing after a hip operation, managed four costume changes during her set, including white robes with a giant square mask surrounding her face, and a shell string bikini.