Even without actually performing, Miley Cyrus managed to create a stir on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The 21-year-old pop star sent a young, formerly homeless man to accept her Moonman statuette for Video of the Year — and the speaker stunned the star-studded audience with his impassioned plea.
“I’ve survived in shelters all over the city,” the man, who identified himself as “Jesse,” told the crowd inside Los Angeles’ The Forum. “I’ve been an extra in your movies, I’ve been an extra in your life.
“Outside these doors are 54,000 human beings that have no place to call home.”
As Jesse directed viewers to Miley Cyrus’ website for donation information, the “Wrecking Ball” singer was captured by cameras crying on the side of the stage.
“I’m just getting started,” said Cyrus in a statement, “and I want to make sure my fans are part of helping me to give back and make an impact on this issue — we all have the power to make change happen.”
Jesse pointed viewers to Cyrus’ Facebook page, where they could make donations to the Hollywood homeless shelter, My Friend’s Place. On the page, she promised donors a chance to enter a contest to be flown to Brazil and see her concert in Rio.
The moving scene was a far cry from Cyrus’ antics at last year’s VMAs.
During the 2013 show, a barely dressed Cyrus twerked up a controversy during an R-rated performance that featured simulated masturbation and grinding on duet partner Robin Thicke, who is 16 years her senior.
