Eminem a big winner but Cyrus sparks MTV awards controversy

Rapper Eminem had triple cause to celebrate after he was the biggest winner at the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards in Amsterdam.

But it was Miley Cyrus who sparked controversy after she appeared to light a rolled-up joint on stage.

US hip-hop star Eminem, 41, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers, triumphed with the prizes for Global Icon and Best Hip Hop act on the same day he scored his seventh consecutive number one UK album with The Marshall Mathers LP 2.

He took to the stage to perform Berzerk and Rap God - two tracks from his new album.

"This is crazy. I want to say thank you to everybody over the years," he said to Will Ferrell's Anchorman alter-ego Ron Burgundy as he accepted the Global Icon award.

Making a reference to the 2004 comedy, he joked: “I love award.”

Cyrus, 20, alluded to her drug-taking past by taking what looked like a joint from her handbag as she accepted the award for Best Video for her song, Wrecking Ball.

The Bangerz singer, who opened the show with a performance of We Can't Stop accompanied by a dwarf, previously courted controversy for her "twerking" with Robin Thicke.

“I couldn’t fit this award in my purse but I did find this,” she said before flicking a lighter and smoking it.

Other big winners on the night included Katy Perry, One Direction and Justin Bieber.

Perry proved she had the edge over fellow songstresses Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez to be crowned Best Female.

“This is so cool. I was sitting backstage drinking champagne, looking at all those people, thinking I’m not going to win. I love what I do and I’m glad you see that,” she said as she received her trophy on stage.

Jared Leto and his Thirty Seconds To Mars bandmates took home the award for Best Alternative act.

“This is actually surreal because we are going to play this venue in two days. Thank you to all the dreamers... You made ours come true,” the frontman said.

There were memorable performances from Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Snoop Dogg, Kings Of Leon and The Killers, before Swedish duo Icona Pop — Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo — closed the ceremony with their hit, I Love It.

Thicke's performance of Blurred Lines featured a special guest appearance from Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.

Winners:

Best UK & Ireland Act: One Direction

Global Icon Award: Eminem

Best Look: Harry Styles

Biggest Fans: Tokio Hotel

Best Song: Locked Out Of Heaven, Bruno Mars

Best Hip-Hop: Eminem

Best Alternative: 30 Seconds To Mars

Best Female: Katy Perry

Best New Act: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Best Rock: Green Day

Best Electronic: Avicii

Best Male: Justin Bieber

Worldwide Act: Chris Lee

Global Icon: Eminem

Best Pop: One Direction

Best Live: Beyonce

Best Video: Wrecking Ball, Miley Cyrus