MTV has released a split-screen video of Miley Cyrus' full exchange with Nicki Minaj during Nicki's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. This may be simply to milk further interest despite the network's disappointing ratings numbers for the August 30 broadcast, or for the entertainment of those among us who enjoy watching a pop star respond to a public chastisement while she's wearing a cartoon face for clothes. It also may be for those skeptics who want to analyze the footage, like a conspiracy theorist rewatching Zapruder's film of JFK's assassination, looking for proof that the whole thing was WWE-style theater.

“And now.. back to...this bitch that had a lot to say about me the other day in the press." As Nicki says the phrase that's probably some people's ringtone right now — "Miley, what's good?" — the pop star stops wriggling and vamping for the audience on the second stage and appears to grimace, before quickly moving to react. She takes a deep breath before responding. "Hey...we're all in this industry, we all do interviews, and we all know how they manipulate sh---t," she said, despite the fact that she was directly quoted as criticizing Nicki in the New York Times interview that started it all.

Miley's family's reaction is also shown in the clip, amid other audience member's looks of shocked amusement. Billy Ray, Tish and their kids shift in their seats but the smiles never leave her parent's faces — Miley's mom even appears to be watching the exchange like a thrilled Wimbledon spectator enjoying a particularly close match, moving her head to look at one stage, and then the other.

Welp, there you have it (again). Do you believe the feelings expressed onstage were from the heart, or are you of the people who suspect the whole thing was another machination on MTV's part, like arranging to have Taylor Swift join Nicki Minaj's opening number, or to have the seriously-ever-present Taylor Swift give former nemesis Kanye West his Video Vanguard Award? Watch the video below, and let us know what you think.

See All of Miley Cyrus' 2015 VMAs Looks

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