2011 Billboard Music Awards
May 22, 2011
MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Eminem and Justin Bieber (6 each)
Rihanna (18)
Critical reception and controversy[edit]
Overall, critics praised the performances in whole. Critics, however, noted Beyoncé as the standout performer of the night.[2] However, some controversy was generated from the show. The Parents Television Council criticized Rihanna and Britney Spears' performance of "S&M", calling it "explicit", with PTC president saying "I cannot imagine what would possibly lead the ABC television network to air a profanity-laced, S&M sex show on primetime broadcast television", while criticizing the choice to air the performance first, on what they claim is a normally family targeted time slot (the show aired at 8:00 p.m.).[3]