Lady GaGa wanted to walk down the red carpet with a lion at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs)  (September 13, 2009).

The eccentric pop star demanded a bizarre array of items for her performance at the ceremony – including the dangerous big cat - in an attempt to "upstage" every other pop star attending.

A source said: "It sparked a war backstage as GaGa was clearly trying to upstage the biggest acts. While the likes of Beyonce Knowles kept their riders simple, Lady GaGa wanted to make a grand entrance."

"As well as a plush dressing room with all the usual demands of champagne and fluffy towels, she wanted a jungle animal. Her people left a list of companies which provide tamed, trained lions and a formal request was lodged with VMA organizers."

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However, the "Poker Face" singer's demands were ignored as the 23-year-old blonde walked down the red carpet alone in a dramatic long black dress with a high feather neck and black and gold eye patch.

The source added: "There were obvious health and safety concerns."

Last night's ceremony, which took place at New York's Radio City Music Hall, was opened by Janet Jackson who paid tribute to her brother Michael.

Firstly, Madonna made a surprise appearance at the start of the show, praising her 80s pop rival, who died on June 25.

As she left the stage, a group of dancers ran on to re-enact his famous "Thriller" dance routine while the iconic music video was projected onto a huge screen behind them.

The dancers then broke out into faultless versions of the routines from the "Bad" and "Smooth Criminal" videos.

Janet, 46, then burst onto the set to join the dancers for a rendition of her 1995 duet with Michael "Scream."