HOLLYWOOD—Miley Cyrus went the extra mile at the MTV Video Music Awards on August 25, when she appeared on stage with a bevy of creepy teddy bears before changing into a nude-colored bikini and dancing seductively with Robin Thicke during a performance of his summer hit “Blurred Lines.” Some people felt violated with the bizarre performance. While Justin Timberlake, 32, was the big winner at the MTV Video Music Awards with a spectacular 15-minute medley of his greatest hits.
Some of the other highlights of the show involved the return of Lady Gaga who tore through her current single “Applause,” as well as most of her wardrobe, by switching costumes and styles mid song. Gaga’s disheveled-Marilyn Monroe look, later wrapped with her strutting like Beyonce. What Gaga lacked in shock value at previous VMAs, most notably the 2010 show at which she wore a dress made of raw meat, Miley Cyrus, was the shocker in poor taste this time around.
Leave it to Taylor Swift to pick out a former boyfriend for praise as she won Best Female Video for “I Knew You Were Trouble.” A direct reference to Harry Styles from One Direction, Swift said, “I want to thank the person who inspired this song, who knows exactly who he is, because I got one of these. Thank you so much.” Katy Perry brought the event to a close, performing her new single “Roar,” dressed as a boxer.
Something always happens at the VMAs, to keep it alive at the water cooler. Nearly a decade ago we had Madonna kiss pop stars Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera during a VMA performance. That lasted for weeks, this year it was Miley Cyrus. Madonna who celebrated her 55th birthday, at a decedent chateau in the south ofFrance dressed as Marie Antoinette was not present at the ceremony.
She is still the ultimate material girl, topping Forbes highest-earning celebrities. While her MDMA album sold less than 1 million copies, her stadium tour grossed $305 million. The concert, which fans dished out over $100 per ticket, earned her the Top Touring Award at the Billboard Music Awards. Forbes estimated that the queen of pop earned $125 million between June 2012 and June 2013 thanks to her Material Girl clothing, her fragrances and merchandise sales. Madonna also invests in companies such as Vita Coco. According to Forbes, this is the most she has ever earned.
The second place went to Steven Spielberg, thanks to the great success of “ Lincoln” at the box office. The director earned an estimated $100 million between June 2012 and June 2013. Now the great surprise goes to the third place author of “50 Shades of Grey,” E.L. James, Howard Stern and Simon Cowell who each earned $95 million each.
Rose’s Scoop: The group One Direction has a new fragrance line “Our Moment,” which comes in a hexagonal shaped bottle which looks like a Barbie’s upside-down tutu with a tiara as a stopper. Meanwhile, Ryan Seacrest has added another show to his producer’s credits. He already hosts “American Idol,” and NBC’s upcoming “Million Second Quiz,” has sold a sitcom to NBC called “Me and My Needs.”
By Rose Quintiliano
