The MTV Video Music Awards are awards that are presented by the cable channel “Music Television.” These awards are to honor the best artist’s music videos separated between multiple categories. The 2014 VMA’s was broadcasted on August 24^th from 9:00 PM to 11:30 PM this year.

Nicki Minaj helped open the show with a huge boom when, with Ariana Grande and Juicy J, brought the video for Anaconda to life. The rapper felt a lot more uncomfortable during her second song when her outfit ripped and she was forced to hold it together.

Video Of The Year was awarded to Miley Cyrus for Wrecking Ball, but when they called her name to accept the award she had a different plan. Cyrus brought homeless 22-year-old Jesse Helt as her date, and she had him accept her award onstage.

“My name’s Jesse,” Helt said during his speech. “I am accepting this award on behalf of the 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth of the United States who are starving, lost, and scared for their lives right now. I know, because I am one of those people. I have survived in shelters all over this city. The music industry made over $7 billion this year, and outside these doors are 54,000 human beings who have no place to call home,” he said.

Miley then took over, saying, “now will be only the beginning for me. We’ve got to start somewhere.”

There were multiple live performances broadcasted this year. Taylor Swift performed her new single Shake It Off live and onstage for the first time, and Iggy Azeala performed her new single Black Widow. Other musicians, such as Maroon 5, Sam Smith, and Usher, also gave performances.

Best Male Video was awarded to Sing by Ed Sheeran feat. Pharrell Williams. Dark Horse by Katy Perry feat. Juicy J won the Best Female Video, and Best Pop Video was awarded to Problem by Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea. Best Rock Video was awarded to Royals by Lorde. The Best Lyric Video was awarded to Don’t Stop by 5 Seconds Of Summer and MTV Clubland Award was awarded to Stay The Night by Hayley Williams and Zedd.

Among other things that happened at the VMA’s, rapper-actor Common requested a moment of silence for Michael Brown, the 18-year-old who was shot fatally by a police officer while unarmed on August 9^th.

“Hip Hop has always been about truth and has been a powerful instrument of social change from Mel Melle to Public Enemy to Kendrick Lamar,” Common said. “Hip-Hop has always been presented a voice for the revolution.”

There was also a touching, yet short tribute to the late iconic actor Robin Williams shown at the VMA’s that lasted around 23 seconds. The slideshow consisted of photos and the background music was A Sky Full Of Stars by Coldplay. Since the lost of Williams was so tragic, many people believed that the tribute should have been at least 60 seconds.

Beyoncé and her family were brought onstage when she was announced winner of The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. She referred to Jay Z as “her beloved” and he called her “the greatest living entertainer”. Blue Ivy, their daughter, was seen clapping with tears down her face yelling “Yay, Mommy!” Beyoncé thanked her fans and emotionally told her family that she loved them. She closed the show with a medley of all her hits mixed together.

The 2014 MTV Video Music Awards was concluded to be a success with multiple awards given out to artists and good entertainment for everyone at home or present at the awards show.