[starttext]
By Rachel Quigley and Daily Mail Reporter
Gutsy: Lady Gaga wore a 'raw meat' outfit to the MTV Video Music Awards, where she picked up eight awardsIt's a dress that certainly took some guts to wear.
But the question on everybody's lips after Lady Gaga's appearance in a 'raw meat' outfit at the MTV Video Music Awards was: real or fake?
The singer no doubt planned on causing maximum controversy by wearing the ensemble - including a meat hat and purse - to the Los Angeles event on Sunday night, where she picked up eight awards, the most for any artist in 23 years.
The dress, the work of Los Angeles-based Argentinian designer Franc Fernandez, came just days after Lady Gaga, 24, appeared on the cover of Japanese Vogue in a bikini also apparently made from meat, sparking outrage from animal rights activists.
Cher, who presented Lady Gaga with the most prestigious award of the night, Video of the Year for Bad Romance, also wore a daring outfit.
The 64-year-old recreated the see-through body suit look from her 1989 video If I Could Turn Back Time.
She said: 'I'm the oldest chick with the biggest hair in the littlest costume. Back in the day, I used to get thrown off MTV for wearing things like this that seem so tame now. That's when Lady Gaga was Baby Gaga.'
Fashion forward: Lady Gaga played it regal in a flowing costume gown by Alexander McQueen (left), before changing into a black leather number by Giorgio Armani to pick up her Best Pop Video award
Lady Gaga also paid tribute to late designer Alexander McQueen by arriving in one of his gowns.
The 24-year-old singer, who won eight Moonman Awards, arrived on the red carpet in a flowing regal McQueen design, comprising gold, orange and green with a Renaissance-style art print on the front and a pair of ankle-breaking Armadillo 12-inch heels by the late designer.
During the ceremony she also wore a black leather creation by Giorgio Armani, before finishing off with her controversial raw meat dress.
Scroll down to see a full list of winners...
Not alone: The singer arrived at the MTV Video Music Awards last night in a Renaissance-style dress complete with a military entourage at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles
Standing tall: Gaga arrived in a pair of Alexander McQueen Armadillo shoes with 12-inch heelsAs she walked on stage to collect her Video Of The Year award from Cher, Gaga admitted the meat dress was difficult to walk in.
She said: 'This outfit's too heavy to walk in. I apologise if I'm a little slow this evening.'
Lady Gaga later appeared on The Ellen Show still wearing her meaty gown.
And she looked delighted when the host, stern vegan Ellen Degeneres, presented her with a gift of a lettuce bikini to replace it.
Ellen asked Gaga, 'What is the purpose of the meat?'
She replied: 'Well, it is certainly no disrespect to anyone that is vegan or vegetarian. As you know, I am the most judgement-free human being on the earth.
'However, it has many interpretations but for me this evening if we don't stand up for what we believe in and if we don't fight for our rights pretty soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on own bones. And, I am not a piece of meat.'
Ellen seemed unconvinced by this explanation and presented her with the leafy bikini, much to Gaga's delight.
Ellen said: 'I have a suggestion, next time you want to pose in a bikini somewhere...'
An excited Gaga held up the bikini and said, 'It's fabulous! It's kale! Is it organic?'
Lettuce hope she wears it! Ellen Degeneres presents Lady Gaga with a vegan-friendly bikiniMeanwhile Katy Perry dazzled at the MTV Awards in a risqué see-through Marchesa dress with black embroidery detailing to save her blushes.
Describing her outfit, she said: 'I look like an ice skater.'
As she made her arrival on to the white carpet at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, she revealed she had a 'mad cold' and was on antibiotics.
'I'm still here because I'm a pro,' declared 25-year-old Perry.
She also told how she loves awards shows because 'you get free drinks' and 'get to meet your idols' before recalling 'and last year I took home a husband'.
Katy was referring, of course, to husband-to-be Russell Brand who she started dating at last year's VMAs in New York, which he presented.
Making an effort: Katy Perry showed some flesh in her Marchesa mini-dress and Jimmy Choo heels as she admitted she was suffering from a bad cold
Acting up: Katy got into a bit of a mock fight with a spaceman, showing off her slender legs as she did
In homage: Katy had pictures of her husband-to-be Russell Brand, who she met at last year's VMA Awards in New York where he was the host, on her finger nailsHe wasn't with her on the white carpet, but was at least in spirit as Katy revealed her nails had pictures of him on them.
Lady Gaga and Perry were among a plethora of artists who took their place on the white carpet amid a frenzy of flashbulbs as an army of screaming fans watched on.
Other artists taking their place included British star Florence and the Machine's Florence Welch, who donned a stunning gold Givenchy dress with a zip down the middle.
Stylish: U.S. singer Ke$ha in an outfit she made herself and British star Florence Welch of Florence And The Machine, in a glittering gold Givenchy dress
Monochrome: (L-R) Twilight actress Ashley Greene in a black and white Giambattista Valli mini, Modern Family star Sofia Vergara in a sequined Dolce & Gabbana LBD and Evan Rachel Wood in a Gothic Gucci numberMeanwhile U.S. singer Ke$ha slipped into a low-cut metallic black dress which she claimed to have made herself.
Explaining how she made the ensemble, she said: 'I got the garbage bags from Home Depot and I kind of just put it together.'
But it was not only singers making a statement on the white carpet, with a host of faces from the big and small screen.
Glamour: R&B; singer Ciara wore a stunning black and white feathered Givenchy dress, teen star Selena Gomez shimmered in a silver Reem Acra strapless gown and actress Rosario Gomez wore a tight blue leather number
Lucky boy: Justin Bieber receives kisses from Rihanna and PerryTwilight star Ashley Greene wowed in a white skirt with black and silver Giambattista Valli mini while Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara donned a shimmering Dolce & Gabbana LBD.
R&B; singer Ciara looked stunning in a black and white feathered Givenchy Couture creation.
The Jersey Shore crew were also in full swing, with the likes of JWoww and Sammi leading the gang.
Inside the ceremony it was Taylor Swift and Kanye West's performances which turned out to be the big story of the night.
Eastside go West: Jersey Shore's Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Paul DelVecchio, Michael 'The Situation' Sorrentino, Nicole Polizzi (Snooki), Jenni Farley (JWoww), Deena Cortese, Sammi Giancola and Vinny Guadagnino
Dancing With The stars contestant Audrina Patridge wore a silver Isaac Mizrahi dress and, right, her former Hills co-stars Stephanie Pratt, in a Nicole Miller maxi, and Lauren 'Lo' Bosworth in a gold Gabriela Cadena miniMany were expecting this year's awards to be the night Taylor got her revenge on Kanye after his highly publicised stage-storming antics of last year.
But the country singer decided not to stoop to conquer, with her highly anticipated song about West serving as an olive branch rather than a slap in the face.
The 20-year-old delivered a poignant and powerful ode at Sunday's ceremony in downtown Los Angeles which, instead of criticising him, sympathised with his difficult time in the spotlight since he infamously gatecrashed her acceptance speech for Best Video saying it should have gone to Beyonce.
Looking cool: Justin Bieber with his mentor Usher, with the pair looking hip in sunglasses
Bieber fever: The Canadian star delighted fans as he ran past them during his performance
Boys together: Justin Timberlake - wearing Dolce & Gabbana - joined his co-stars Jesse Eisenberg, and Andrew Garfield, who appear in the Facebook movie The Social Network source: dailymail
[endtext]
