Artist of the millennium

In what became a signature moment in VMA history, Michael Jackson began giving an acceptance speech thinking he had been presented with an award called "Artist of the Millennium." Actually, this was just something Britney Spears had called him.

In an uncomfortable moment (later lampooned the following year by Jack Black), Jackson talked about his childhood in Indiana and how appreciative he was for this honor. Everybody was slightly confused, but eventually the audience at Radio City Music Hall went along with it and gave Jackson an ovation when he was finished.