Miley Cyrus' MTV Video Music Awards performance Sunday night likely left many shocked and even puzzled, but no reaction was better than that of Rihanna and the boys of One Direction.
Cyrus performed her summer hit, "We Can't Stop," and then stayed on stage to perform "Blurred Lines" with Robin Thicke. The act included giant teddy bears, wild twerking, some latex underwear and lots of tongue. She also took some time to grind on Thicke (who is a 36-year-old husband and father) and pretend to lick his chest, before running off with her foam finger.
While the 20-year-old pop singer was performing, the camera panned to the crowd and landed on Rihanna and One Direction, who were sitting near each other inside the Barclays Center. The R&B; superstar, her posse and the boys of 1D were not impressed.
Rihanna's blank expression spoke volumes, while Harry Styles and his furrowed brow seemed very perplexed. Needless to say, they probably weren't the only ones. It's not every day you see a former Disney darling running around on stage in pigtails and a bodysuit slapping butts and twerking.
Others were downright disturbed.
Raise your hand if you feel personally victimized by Miley Cyrus' #VMAs performance.
— E! Online (@eonline) August 26, 2013
The 2013 MTV VMAs were something else. Thanks for joining!
YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ME SNORE!!! AM I RIGHT????
— bobby finger (@bobbyfinger) 4 years ago
Katy Perry performed "Roar" for the first time, and it was glorious.
With a silly voice.
Ladies and gentlemen, the reunited NSYNC. http://t.co/vsH4DT5Yb2
— Hunter Schwarz (@hunterschwarz) 4 years ago
The perfect time for a Bruno Mars performance is totally TWO HOURS into the #VMAs.
— Jesse Fox (@JesseDavidFox) 4 years ago
it would be amazing if nsync reappeared right now by lowering down from the ceiling on marionette strings
— kalkutta (@djkalkutta) 4 years ago
Let's remember this:
Me during Justin Timberlake's performance http://t.co/0IKZ3MXGMy
— things in life (@ItsThingsInLife) 3 years ago
VMAs: Stop all this "what's up Brooklyn!!!" What's up is I'm 10 blocks away in my nightgown trying to keep my dog from drinking his own piss
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) 4 years ago
More on Drake's MTV VMA performance.
Thanks for spreading the word. #ROAR MT @katyperry: RT @BarackObama: Get affordable coverage starting Oct. 1 http://t.co/1zEA5K9Ebl
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) 6 years ago
Drake shifts into "Started From The Bottom," obviously.
Because when he isn't taking photos with Taylor Swift, he's a great rapper.
He thanks God, his publicist and his "Mahomies."
Uh yeaaaauh RT @SPINmagazine: The Smith family's reaction to twerking Miley 'bout sums it up http://t.co/l5CQ7tgeB6
— Jessica Goodman (@jessgood) 4 years ago
Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis, great song, best stage design of the night. Jennifer Hudson so good
— Joseph Gordon-Levitt (@hitRECordJoe) 4 years ago
We are all Taylor Swift. http://t.co/kkSdI4VSA5
— Lauren Hoffman (@L_Hoff) 4 years ago
After having a major year with the breakout success of their hit single "Thrift Shop" and the follow-up "Can't Hold Us," Macklemore and Ryan Lewis hit the stage at MTV's Video Music Awards to perform their song "Same Love."
Click here for more on Macklemore's MTV VMA performance.
Can you imagine being a conservative watching the #VMAs right now?
— Noël Wells (@RealTomHankz) 3 years ago
After being introduced by NBA player Jason Collins and A$AP Rocky.
This is amazing.
— Jon Caramanica (@joncaramanica) 4 years ago
We can't even hear One Direction over the boos! #VMA
— Chris Weingarten (@1000TimesYes) 4 years ago
One Direction for "Best Song Ever," which was clearly not the best song of the summer, but #mtv.
"Joey farted." ...really? Way to kill the JT buzz, Kevin Hart. Someone is PRESSED right now. #VMAs2013
— E! Online (@eonline) 6 years ago
Also on HuffPost:
The Huffington Post | By Cavan Sieczkowski Posted: 08/25/2013 11:17 pm EDT | Updated: 08/26/2013 6:43 pm EDT