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The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards were handed out last night in L.A. It’s an awards show honoring music videos, which haven’t been aired on MTV in years.

Whatever, right? Without the VMAs, stars wouldn’t have an excuse to wear crazy $h!t and make ridiculous speeches as they accept totally arbitrary honors.

We kid. Mostly. Whatever you think of the show, it marks what has often been the year’s craziest night in music, and this year, it moved in a new direction.

ONE Direction.

Rihanna Drake Love Look VMAs 2016
(Getty Images)

It was a virtual British invasion at Staples Center as the hunky UK boy band teens took home three awards Thursday night and barged in on Rihanna’s party.

Rih kicked off things with a performance to open the show, then ended it by taking the TOP honor, video of the year for her steamy hit “We Found Love.”

But it was One Direction which provided the most screamed-over performance, then won best pop video, best new artist and most share-worthy video.

Chris Brown pulled off something of an upset in the best male video category. Rihanna’s former boyfriend won for his self-directed “Turn Up The Music.”

Drake won best hip-hop video for “HYFR,” which featured Lil Wayne. Nicki Minaj, dressed in a skintight full-body outfit, won best female video for “Starships.”

Follow the jump for a full list of winners from the 2012 MTV VMAs!

 
    Video of the Year: Rihanna, “We Found Love” featuring Calvin Harris

Best Male Video: Chris Brown , “Turn Up the Music”

Best Female video: Nicki Minaj, “Starships”

Best Pop Video: One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”

Best Rock Video: Coldplay, “Paradise”

Best Hip-Hop Video: Drake, “HYFR” featuring Lil Wayne

Best Video With a Message: Demi Lovato, “Skyscraper”

Most Share-Worthy Video: One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful”

Best Electronic Dance Music Video: Calvin Harris, “Feel So Close”

Best New Artist: One Direction

Best Direction: M.I.A., “Bad Girls”

Best Art Direction: Katy Perry, “Wide Awake”

Best Choreography: Chris Brown, “Turn Up the Music”

Best Editing: Beyonce Knowles, “Countdown”

Best Visual Effects: Skrillex, “First of the Year (Equinox)”

Best Cinematography: M.I.A., “Bad Girls”