They crashed the stage to ramble about children and do interpretive dances. They challenged the laws of decency, kissed and made up in front of millions, and got busted for faking the funk. From famous fights to ballsy boycotts, these are the 10 weirdest, wildest and most shocking moments in Grammy history.
10
50 Cent Interrupts Evanescence's Win
2004
Long before Kanye West made awards show stage crashing jump the shark, 50 Cent experimented with the form. Nobody really knows why the "In Da Club" rapper -- was he that sure he'd won? -- strolled up to the podium during Evanesence's 2004 Best new Artist acceptance speech, least of all lead singer Amy Lee, who just shrugged off the interruption and went on to thank her supporters "in addition to 50 Cent."
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9
Michael Jackson Talks "Stolen Childhood"
1993
As a former child star turned international icon, the Michael Jackson who stepped up to accept a Grammy Legend award in 1993 was just becoming the eccentric recluse known more for his oddities than his music. He helped speed the recalibration with his "Grammy Legend" acceptance speech that night. Standing next to his sister Janet, Michael spun a haunting story of the Jacksons' abnormal youth, telling the world that normal childhood pleasures "were exchanged for hard work, struggle and pain." Yet the very personal revelations felt scripted and calculated, and when he remarked, "It feels good to be thought of as a person, not as a personality," he may have already known that that's what he would eventually become.
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8
Tupac Reunites Kiss
1996
"We need to shock the people, so let's shock the people," 1996 Grammy presenter Tupac Shakur declared. And shocked they were. Seconds later, the rapper was joined onstage by Kiss, whose reunion was essentially announced at that jaw-dropping moment. Appearing true-to-form as Demon, Starchild, Space Ace and Cat Man, the four original members of the rock band took the stage -- fully made-up and costumed for the first time in 15 years -- and roaring audience members were genuinely surprised, and at least a little bit amused at the spectacle of Tupac surrounded by tongue-wagging old dudes in spandex and platform boots.
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7
Sinead Does Not Want What She Has Got
1990
The ever-controversial Sinead O'Connor, the same singer who tore up a photo of the Pope during a live SNL performance, made a splash at the 1990 Grammys -- by refusing to show up. According to O'Connor, her absence from the ceremony and subsequent refusal to accept her Best Alternative Music Performance trophy for "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" was her way of boycotting the 33rd annual awards. When queried about the decision, she maintained that her reasoning stemmed from the award show's extreme commercialization. The real question is: Did anyone miss her!?
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6
J.Lo's Barely-There Dress
2000
Jennifer Lopez caused a national commotion when she and fellow presenter David Duchovny came onstage to give out the first award of the 2000 Grammys. Her green Versace gown, with a "neckline" that plunged past her navel and a hemline threatening indecent exposure, looked more like a music video getup than an awards show dress. J.Lo's dignity was only salvaged by a bikini-area brooch holding the entire creation together. The audience whooped and catcalled to show their appreciation, while Duchovny stepped aside to let J.Lo have the spotlight.
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5
Elton & Eminem Duet
2001
Did Elton John turn a blind, queer eye at the 2001 Grammys when he appeared on stage with accused homophobe Eminem for a rendition of the rapper's nominated "Stan"? That's certainly what many of his homosexual peers thought, as they howled in protest despite Mathers and John's amazing performance of the song. The friendly hug at the end probably fanned the flames of their anger a bit too.
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4
Ol' Dirty Stage-Crasher
1998
In 1998, Ol' Dirty Bastard proved once and for all that Wu-Tang Clan ain't nothin' to… well, you know. After the group lost to Puff Daddy for Hip-Hop Album of the Year, ODB took to the stage and defended his Clan during an acceptance speech for a category the group wasn't even nominated in. Confused? So was Shawn Colvin. She couldn't even bask in glow of her win for Song of the Year before ODB began his bizarre ranting. For the record, ODB wanted people everywhere to be sure to know that Wu-Tang is "for the children."
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3
Chris Brown
Assaults Rihanna
2009
Rihanna and Chris Brown's reign at the top of the charts was a solid one, but all it took for their personal lives to crumble was a text message. The night before the 2009 awards, the couple attended Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party in good spirits and health. But the evening took an ugly turn when reports surfaced that Brown had beeninvolved in the assault of an unnamed woman. When a photo of Rihanna's battered face leaked online shortly thereafter, the truth became all too clear. Announced via a terse press release from the Recording Academy, the sudden cancellation of the duo's Grammy appearances just hours before the ceremony ignited the firestorm of coverage of the incident. A disagreement over a text message turned violent, and Rihanna was left bruised and bloodied - as was Brown's career.
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2
Phoney Vanilli
1990
Milli Vanilli couldn't blame this one on the rain: the German duo with a string of hits in the late '80s won the 1990 Grammy for Best New Artist, but the celebration didn't last long. In November of that year, it was revealed that singers Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan hadn't sung at all -- the two were merely the faces on the cover of the multi-platinum debut album. For the first and only time ever, a Grammy award was revoked. When asked by reporters how they expected anyone to take them seriously, Pilatus just laughed and said, "Ha! Good question."
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1
Dylan Gets
Soy Bombed
1998
Vegetarian terrorist? Spanglish Egomaniac? When a backup dancer decided to take center stage during Bob Dylan's 1998 performance of his Grammy nominated "Love Sick," he made Grammy history. Ripping off his shirt to reveal the puzzling phrase "Soy Bomb" scrawled across his bare chest, the gyrating performer got away with almost 40 seconds of spastic dancing on international television before security realized something was amiss -- and straight-up wacky. Even Dylan himself barely gave him a scowl. The dancer was lucky that his Grammy explosion didn't cost him; NARAS declined to press charges..
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