As the camera panned backstage, Cyrus failed to cover up and the broadcast quickly cut away to the crowd while she continued to talk. She then said, "What's happening? Oh, sorry."
Throughout the show, she made drug references and sang about smoking marijuana during the final performance of the show.
Mariana Agathoklis, a representative for MTV, said the shot would be removed from future broadcasts of the show.
The Parents Television Council, an advocacy group, accused MTV of trying to create controversy.