VMA Music Awards 2009

VMA Music Awards 2009

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards have wrapped up, leaving behind a bevy of memorable moments, legendary performances and at least one heel turn by a superstar. But while the show onstage was mind-blowing, the behind-the-scenes events were just as enthralling. The MTV News staff was stationed all over the backstage area keeping track of everyone's comings and goings. Of course, the moment that everybody is talking about is Kanye West's interruption during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech. West stormed the stage, snatched the microphone from Swift's hand and began ranting about how much better Beyoncé's video was.

But the night wasn't just about Kanye West, as there were plenty of other memorable moments behind the scenes. Following Britney Spears' win for Best Pop Video (and her in-absentia acceptance speech), the members of Cobra Starship (who were also nominated) were outraged. In fact, they tore up their tickets in disgust the whole time Britney's acceptance video played. "We woulda at least showed up!" frontman Gabe Saporta shouted. He then pulled a huge flask out of his breast pocket and took a drink. Later, Saporta tweeted, "How they gonna give the award to B. Spears if she can't even take the time out to show up?"

Of course, the evening had some positive — if not unusual — moments as well. One of the big stories of the night was Lady Gaga, who made multiple costume changes and was generally strange. She didn't really talk to anybody (save for her profanity-laced acceptance speech) and walked with an exaggerated limp. And she even left parts of herself behind: At one moment, an MTV News correspondent realized that the angel wings Gaga wore during her "Paparazzi" performance were hanging on a hook backstage.