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Kanye West takes the microphone from Taylor Swift - Source: Reuters -
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The MTV video music awards paid tribute to the late Michael Jackson, but was overshadowed by an outburst by rapper Kanye West, who interrupted an acceptance speech by US singer Taylor Swift.
West, who is known for his outspoken ways, jumped up on stage while the 19-year-old Swift was making an acceptance speech for best female video for her hit song You Belong With Me, beating out singers including Beyonce Knowles and Lady Gaga.
Click here for all the details and video of West's outburst
Beyonce took the show's top honour - video of the year - fo her single Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) before recalling her first MTV award with her old band, Destiny's Child, and calling back Swift to the Radio City Music Hall stage to finish her acceptance speech.
"I would like Taylor to come out and have her moment," she said, before the country music star reappeared and thanked her fans.
Beyonce, Lada Gaga and Green Day won three awards apiece, the most of any artists on this year's awards show.
Jackson tribute
The cable channel's awards show began with a tribute to Jackson less than three months after the man known as the King of Pop died from what authorities call a prescription drug overdose at age 50.
"Most of us had turned our backs on him," Madonna said in a speech at the beginning of the awards that recalled his lost childhood. "He was so unique, so original, so rare and there will never be anyone like him again. He was the king."
Performers dressed like Jackson filled the stage and danced to some of his hit songs including Thriller, Bad and Smooth Criminal.
Janet Jackson then appeared on stage. With the video for her brother's song Scream playing on a screen behind her, she mimicked his dance moves in unison with the video. She did not speak.
Michael Jackson promoted many of his ground-breaking videos on MTV in the 1980s.
The network also aired a trailer for This Is It, a documentary about Jackson due out in October that features footage from Jackson rehearsing for his comeback concerts.
The show's other top awards went to US dance music star Lady Gaga, who won best new artist for Poker Face. Rapper T.I. featuring Rihanna won best male video for Live Your Life, and Britney Spears cemented her successful comeback winning best pop video for Womaniser.
Eminem won best hip-hop video for We Made You, and Green Day took the best rock video award for 21 Guns.
The show's performances included Pink, who wowed the audience singing while twirling on a trapeze high above the crowd. Lady Gaga performed her song Paparazzi while smeared with fake blood.
Some of the biggest cheers came after Beyonce performed her award-winning single surrounded by dozens of female dancers.
The night ended with a final reference to Swift, with the show's host, British comedian Russell Brand, joking he would give her "a shoulder to cry on".
