Kanye West steals attention, Lady Gaga turns heads at 2009 VMAs

Sunday’s 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, which took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, featured eye-catching fashions, star-studded performances and a few shocking moments.

The event, which was hosted by Russell Brand for the second consecutive year, was dedicated to the memory of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson.

The show’s opening performance was a montage of Jackson’s greatest hits, beginning with “Thriller” and ending with “Scream,” a hit featuring his sister Janet Jackson, who came out to replicate her brother’s dance moves with support from the crowd.

One shock of the show came directly after the tribute.

Eighteen-year-old singer Taylor Swift was one of the nominees in the Best Female Video category for her hit single, “You Belong With Me.” As she was giving her acceptance speech on the stage, rapper Kanye West ran to the stage, snatched the microphone and praised fellow nominee Beyonce for her “Single Ladies” music video.

West, who was nominated for multiple awards, was booed for the duration of the evening.

Other shocks came from avant-garde pop artist Lady Gaga, who shed “blood” on stage during a performance of her latest hit “Paparazzi” and donned a series of attention-getting ensembles for the duration of the show.

Highlights from the show included performances from P!nk, British-based band Muse, Green Day and Beyonce.

Lady Gaga and Beyonce won three awards apiece, with Green Day, Britney Spears and Brooklyn-based Matt & Kim named as other award winners.

The final surprise of the evening came from Beyonce, who allowed Taylor Swift to re-do her acceptance speech as she won the Video of the Year award for “Single Ladies.”