Awards / Awards Shows

Nicki Minaj CLAIMS her dress was unzipped during her performance at the VMAs because she didn't have enough time to get ready ... but that's BS -- she pulled the same stunt during rehearsals.

Eyewitnesses who watched Nicki's rehearsal Sunday morning tell TMZ ... she walked on stage wearing the same dress -- unzipped. One eyewitness says it caught her eye because she initially thought Nicki had come out in a robe.

We're told Nicki was wrapping her arms around the dress in a "weird" sort of way ... trying to manipulate it to see how much would be exposed.

And we're told ... the VMAs created a make-shift dressing room right off stage -- draped with black sheets -- so she would have enough time to change.

Fashion model Megan Hawkins just earned her street cred ... but it may hamper her career ... she took a bullet apparently meant for Suge Knight at Chris Brown's VMA party ... and took it in the butt.

The 5'11" blonde-haired, blue-eyed model posted photos -- showing her in a hospital bed and using a walker to get around -- with the comment, "my ass took a 9mm and I'm keeping it as a souvenir."

Megan -- who's just 19 -- was one of 3 people shot inside 1Oak nightclub early Sunday morning.

Here's an unspoiled view of Megan pre-wound. Enjoy.

Riff Raff tried telling us he was dating Katy Perry months ago and we didn't believe him ... but Sunday night, the two looked like quite the couple -- the key word being ... LOOKED.

Following the VMAs, our photog spotted the happy couple leaving Mastro's wearing matching denim outfits. They were both clearly tipsy and joked about picking baby names.

But when you see the car door close ... and Katy's hand press against the window -- this all starts to look like they're both trying way too hard. It's not that we don't want RR to land a chick like Katy ... it's just that their gushing stinks of a publicity stunt.

Back in March, Riff Raff told us he and Katy were a thing, but check out the other girl in the video ... we assumed he was just kidding. Based on last night's video, we were probably right.

Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart insist they're not back together, and Sunday night at the VMAs ... they went through great lengths to show they aren't ... which totally means they are.

As TMZ first reported, despite being photographed together last week ... her people swear they're leading separate lives and just friends.

So J.Lo and Casper walked the VMA red carpet separately, sat separately at the VMAs (except for a quick reunion for candy) and each showed up at Mastro's following the show ... but left separately.

Where there's smoke ...

TMZ has obtained video showing Suge Knight shortly after he was hit by 6 bullets ... and he's surrounded by cops with their guns drawn.

In the video ... Suge can be seen on his knees, crouched behind a white Bentley parked outside 1Oak nightclub ... and appears to be in distress -- although the gunshot wounds are not obvious.

Witnesses tell us he sought protection behind the car as other people fled the club ... where Chris Brown had been hosting a VMA party.

Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart REUNITED at the MTV VMAs ... if only for a quick second ... when the dancer made J.Lo an offer she couldn't refuse -- Skittles.

Despite the fact they were sitting in different sections, Casper made his way over to Jennifer's section during a commercial break with a sugary peace offering ... and the whole thing was captured on the VMA livestream.

As we previously reported, the two were spotted out together earlier this week -- despite the fact they recently broke up.

Nicki Minaj's would be "Anaconda" co-star -- the snake that bit a dancer during Friday's rehearsal -- did not get the chance to strike a second time … and TMZ got the shot of the reptile getting 86'd just hours before the VMAs.

Sources at VMA rehearsals tell us the offending python was at the L.A. Forum today -- just in case Nicki, her team and MTV felt comfortable going forward with the performance as planned.

But we're told the final decision was made to cut the snake a few hours before show time, and handlers loaded the rejected serpent into a container and unceremoniously removed it from the premises.

Sometimes showbiz bites.

This video puts you right in the middle of SHOTS FIRED at the VMA pre-party early Sunday morning.

There is clearly a lot of commotion before the shots ring out. We're told a fight had broken out and it's clear from the video people were going at it.

It sounds like there are 4 quick shots ... and then a 5th. But we're told by Suge Knight's family he was shot 6 times. So the number of shots is unclear.

BTW ... you can't see it in the video, but eyewitnesses tell us during the shooting Chris stood there with arms outstretched, trying to look invincible.

Cops are focusing on beef between gang members that triggered the nightclub shooting that landed Suge Knight in an ICU with multiple bullet wounds ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We're told cops are interested in a common denominator with Chris Brown, Suge and Game -- Bloods affiliation.

Eyewitnesses tell us Brown was throwing up gang signs before the shooting inside 1OAK early Sunday and he was performing with a red bandana -- the Bloods' moniker.

Game -- who got in a fight outside 1OAK before the shooting because they wouldn't let him in -- is a known and proud member of the Bloods. His album is called Blood Money.

As for Suge ... one of the most notorious things about him is his Bloods affiliation.

And we know ... cops are interested in this -- there were several known gang bangers surrounding Chris at the time of the shooting.

5:45 AM PT -- Suge is out of surgery … according to family sources. We're told Suge was shot 6 times. He's currently in ICU, but is expected to recover.

Shots rang out at 1OAK nightclub in West Hollywood at around 1:30 AM Sunday ... and Suge Knight was shot twice and taken to the hospital by ambulance where he was rushed into surgery ... eyewitnesses and Suge's family tell TMZ.

A source close to Suge tells us ... he was shot in the stomach and arm and apparently in other places as well.

Tyson Beckford, Robert Ri'chard and Apple de Ap all tell TMZ ... they were inside the pre-VMA party hosted by Chris Brown when they heard 4 shots ring out inside the club.

Suge walked out on his own power ... a cop spotted him and walked the rap mogul to the police car where Suge sat. Suge was then put in an ambulance and taken to a local hospital.

We do not know the seriousness of Suge's injuries. Multiple sources now tell us Suge was one of 3 people who were shot. At least 1 is in critical condition. Sheriff's deputies had guns drawn as clubgoers exited with their hands in the air right after the shooting.

The night started with tension. An hour-and-a-half before the shots, Game came to the club and he and his buddies got into an altercation with security guards ... there was a full-on fight. Game tried to get in, was denied and left, but his buddies stayed behind. We do not know if they were involved in the altercation.

MTV wanted to make it clear ... it wasn't their party ... it's was Chris Brown's.

Chris Brown is batting 1 for 2 ... he hosted a party hours before the 1OAK bullet fest and no one got shot.

Chris, Justin Bieber and other celebs were celebrating VMA weekend at an L.A. mansion. As far as we can see Suge Knight wasn't there.

Likewise ... there's no evidence Justin was at 1OAK when shots were fired later in the evening.

A 6-foot long snake -- believed to be an anaconda -- just bit a dancer during a VMA run-through for Sunday's show ... TMZ has learned.

Nicki Minaj was on stage performing her hit, "Anaconda" when a female dancer was bit by the reptile in front of everyone.

We're told the dancer has just been taken to the hospital where she's being treated.

Anacondas are non-venomous snakes but often transmit bacteria that can lead to serious infections.

The snake was removed from the stage in a container.

It was shades of Lindsay Lohan at the Teen Choice Awards last weekend when a former Disney star went ballistic backstage ... even throwing a projectile at a staffer ... TMZ has learned.

The culprit is Jake T. Austin -- who, according to multiple sources, tried to hit up the Candies gifting suite backstage when he was turned away by a worker who didn't recognize the "Fosters" actor.

Multiple witnesses tell us ... Jake pulled a full "Don't you know who I am?" ... screaming at the employee, "I'm a presenter. Who the f**k are you?!"

We're told Austin got so heated, he picked up an empty shoe box and fired it at the female staffer's chest.

Jake eventually stormed off ... only to return to the gifting suite an hour later with his mom by his side -- and despite having parental supervision, he continued to talk more smack to the suite worker.

It's just another Lohan-esque moment for the former Disney actor -- who was busted for DUI last October and then destroyed the same car in a 4-car pileup just a month later.

We reached out to Austin for comment -- so far, no word back.

Lindsay Lohan doesn't hear the words, "and the award goes to ..." very often ... she heard it Tuesday ... when she took home a trophy at a film festival in Italy. We kid you not.

Lindsay was honored with the Biggest Comeback Award at the Ischia Global Film & Music Fest. She even showed up to collect her hardware and make a brief acceptance speech -- 'cuz you never know if that opportunity's ever gonna come around again.

We're not exactly sure what comeback they're talking about ... her recent acting work has been limited to TV ... and her last film was "The Canyons" -- which grossed $56K.

They called him the "Jolly Green Giant" ... "Gumby" ... and "Walking Pool Table Material" ... but Kevin Durant had a message for everyone who hated on his ESPY fashion last night ... and TMZ Sports has the video.

Maria Sharapova is such a badass ... she hit the sand dunes BEFORE the ESPYs to sneak in a killer workout ... and we've got the pics.

The tennis superstar was out in Manhattan Beach where she ran up the sandy hills for about an hour ... showing off her killer abs in the process.

A short time later, Sharapova swapped out the gym clothes for a fancy dress and went to the award show -- where she towered over her co-presenter Floyd Mayweather in a pretty hilarious segment.