The MTV Video Music Awards are at their best when there’s a little chaos and drama involved. MTV has done a good job of getting this right, too, dating all the way back to Madonna’s iconic performance of “Like a Virgin” at the first VMAs in 1984.
I mean, who doesn’t remember Diana Ross giving Lil’ Kim’s chest a little jiggle in 1999? Or Rage Against the Machine’s Tim Commerford hijacking the show in 2000? And of course, who could forget Madonna swapping spit with Britney Spears (and Christina Aguilera) in 2003—all while Justin Timberlake awkwardly watched.
But in 2009, the show managed to deliver a pop culture moment that was bigger than the VMAs themselves. And it’s something that no award show was able to top… well, until Will Smith slapped the taste out of Chris Rock’s mouth over a de