Lady Gaga took home four prizes at the MTV Europe awards, handed out at a ceremony in Belfast. The flamboyant star, who was nominated six times, won best female, best song and best video for Born This Way, the title track of her latest album, and the "biggest fan" award – a celebration of her devoted "little monsters", as the artist terms her followers.
But while Gaga won the most awards, it was Justin Bieber who caused the biggest commotion when he appeared with his girlfriend, Disney star Selena Gomez. The 17-year-old won best pop act and best male.
Despite being hounded by herds of teenagers sporting the initials JB in lipstick on their faces, Bieber kept a low profile in the city, following reports that he fathered a child after a fleeting affair with a fan. The pop star denied the allegations on US television on Friday, saying: "I know that I'm going to be a target, but I'm never going to be a victim."
The awards were held in three different locations for the first time, with performances in the Ulster Hall and outside the City Hall as well as the main arena in the city. Belfast had been seen as lacking the infrastructure to host such a large event and Gary Lightbody of Belfast band Snow Patrol said he hoped the awards would boost the city's reputation. "The city is literally vibrating with joy," he said. "Very often Northern Ireland in the past has been in the news for other reasons and this is a really, really amazingly positive reason to be in the news."
US singer Bruno Mars won the strangely named best push and best new categories, Thirty Seconds to Mars took best alternative act and best world stage, while Eminem won the hip hop category. Katy Perry won best live act and Linkin Park were named best rock group.
Artists including David Guetta, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Queen were due to perform.
