The Starships hitmaker took to the stage to accept the Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award at the U.S. TV network's annual show for her track Only, featuring Drake, Lil Wayne and Chris Brown, and as she began her speech, she asked the audience, "What is the award for?"

Minaj, who brought her mother and fiance Meek Mill along for the ceremony, has now explained the gaffe, admitting she was not expecting another win after scooping the Best Female Hip-Hip Artist prize so was preparing to exit the show.

She tells Britain's The Sun newspaper, "I was getting ready to leave and gathering my stuff together... I didn't realise I was up for another award, but, hey, that's live TV."