MTV VMAs: Selena Gomez is there for you, Taylor Swift
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The MTV Video Music Awards bring out the biggest and brightest stars in the music industry -- Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Drake were just some of the performers passing by on the white carpet Sunday evening. (Click the picture of Usher, right, to launch a photo gallery of arrivals.)
But the awards show also attracts some more, er, random guests. Case in point? Lakers player Ron Artest, who was on hand to promote a new musician he’s working with, Shin Shin.
‘She’s an artist coming real soon, so everybody watch out,’ he told us. As for more pertinent issues, like the Lakers’ prospects of taking home the national championship again next year, Artest had only this to say: ‘It’s gonna be hard. But we gonna try.’
Comedian Dane Cook was also on hand to promote something un-VMA-related: his upcoming greatest hits album. But he insisted he felt comfortable around the musicians because he ‘does music stuff as well.’
‘I actually feel pretty much at home being around these guys,’ he said, glancing at Akon, who was standing directly to his right. ‘Comedy, music, it really is that thing about connecting with the crowd.’
It’s also where he gathers material for his comedy act.
‘Oh yes, you’re constantly looking around trying to figure out what you can be talking about,’ he said. ‘But you have to change the names to protect the innocent. Nobody wants to be roasted. I can’t talk about a lot of the things I see, but I’ll write a book when I’m like 60, and nobody will hold it against me.’
He admitted having a bit of a thing for the evening’s hostess, Chelsea Handler.
‘I think she’s hilarious. And I want to make love to her. Sweet, sweet love,’ he smiled. ‘She is a sexy broad, I think I can say that.’
Someone who did seem in her element was the ever-cheery Selena Gomez, who has a close friendship with Taylor Swift -- who of course was dissed by Kanye West while accepting her award onstage at last year’s show.
No matter what happened between the two this year, Gomez said she was prepared to console Swift.
‘I’m here for her,’ Gomez said. ‘I’m here to be her best friend.’
-- Amy Kaufman
Top photo: Lady Gaga arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. Credit: Chris Pizzello / Associated Press
Second photo: Usher arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in L.A. Credit: Matt Sayles / Associated Press
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