Ariana Grande, from left, Jessie J and Nicki Minaj perform at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Inglewood, Calif. AP
Nicki Minaj helped open the MTV Video Music Awards with a “Bang” as she brought her “Anaconda” video to life with a rump-shaking performance and had a wardrobe malfunction when she performed with Ariana Grande and Jessie J.
Minaj first wore a green top and shorts, rapping, dancing and exciting the crowd — except Rita Ora, who stared blankly when the camera panned by. But when Minaj performed “Bang Bang,” the rapper was far more subdued as she held the front of her outfit together after a long split appeared.
Grande kicked off the show with a performance of her EDM hit, “Break Free” in a Beyonce-inspired leotard.
Katy Perry won the first award, best female video for the hit “Dark Horse.”
“We are gonna party tonight,” she said.