Helen Mirren: What a farce! Embarrassment as Chris Brown gong is accidentally given to Rihanna at BET Awards

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Whoops: Drake, who collaborated with Rihanna on What's My Name, accepts the Viewers' Choice at the BET Awards in Los Angeles last night after her name was wrongly given as the winner of the gong, seen with presenters Tiffany Greene, along with 106 & Park hosts Terrence J. and Rocsi

Winning an award and then being told it was in fact supposed to go to another artist is embarrassment enough.

But it couldn't have been worse for Rihanna last night, who was named as the winner of the Viewers' Choice gong at the BET Awards - before it later emerged her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown was the winner.

The Barbadian singer was probably relieved she didn't turn up to the ceremony, which she had been expected to attend.

No show: Rihanna did not attend the ceremony as she had been expected to and was pictured at Los Angeles LAX Airport

While the drama unfolded, the 23-year-old singer was pictured at Los Angeles LAX Airport while Brown collected several honours at the event.

The face started as television personality Tiffany Greene, along with 106 & Park hosts Terrence J. and Rocsi took to the stage to present the Viewer's Choice Award.

Greene look confused as she proclaimed the winner to be Chris Brown for his song Look At Me Now.

Correction: Host Kevin Hart then appeared on stage with Rihanna's ex Chris Brown at the end of the show to announce him as the rightful winner of the gong

Fooling around: Brown was initially announced as the winner, before Rihanna was then named as the winner. Then later it was clarified that Brown was the actual artist to be honoured with the gong

But then Terrence quickly stepped in an said: 'I'm sorry, it's Rihanna for What's My Name... this is awkward.'

Rapper Drake, who collaborated on the track with Rihanna, then came to the stage to accept the award.

He said: 'This is awkward,' before making a short acceptance speech and leaving the stage.

Enjoy it while it lasts: Drake with the Viewers' Choice Award and right, Brown collecting another gong for Best Male RnB Artist

Proud moment: The singer also won an award for Best Collaboration for Look At Me Now

However around 30 minutes later, at the end of the show, the main host Kevin Hart clarified the matter by saying Chris Brown was in fact the winner.

Brown, who performed several times at the ceremony, was also on stage and was seen laughing and goofing around on a bike as Hart made the announcement.

Brown won a pair of prizes earlier in the show too.

Performing: Chris appeared on stage several times throughout the evening, seen here in an all-black ensemble

What an outfit: He also entertained in an odd-looking grey suit with billowing sides and shoulder pads

The 21-year-old singer was named best male R&B artist and won best collaboration for his song Look At Me Now with Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes.

Brown accepted the collaboration award after performing a medley that including the winning track.

'Public-speaking is not my strong suit,' he said, thanking BET and his fans before passing the microphone to Wayne, who expressed gratitude to Brown for including him on the track. Busta Rhymes rapped his acceptance.

Chilling: Justin Bieber relaxed as he sat in the audience during the annual ceremony

She's done it! A smiling Nicki Minaj accepts the Best Female Hip Hop Artist award

Earlier in the ceremony, Brown also thanked his fans and the network: 'I appreciate all the support. I know it's been a long road, so I appreciate every blessing in front of me.'

Brown was of course referring to a difficult couple of years after he admitted to assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna on the eve of the Grammy Awards back in 2009.

Both Rihanna and Brown have been making contact recently on social networking site Twitter, prompting speculation about their relationship status.

Elsewhere during the event , Lil Wayne also came on stage when Nicki Minaj accepted her award for best female hip-hop artist.

'I can't believe for the first time I get to share a moment like this with the person who saw me rapping on a staircase,' she said of the rapper and producer, who was incarcerated when she won the same prize last year. 'Lil Wayne, I love you.'

Acceptance speech: Rap group Diddy Dirty Money, consisting of Sean Combs, Dawn Richard (L) and Kalenna Harper, accept the award for Best Group

Minaj was joined by Justin Bieber to present the male hip-hop artist award later in the show. Kanye West won but wasn't on hand to accept the trophy.

Instead of traditional awards-show winners' envelopes, winners were revealed on a tablet device provided by Sprint.

Diddy Dirty Money was named best group.

Jaden Smith and Willow Smith were also early winners. The son and daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith tied as winners of the Young Stars award.

Making a name for themselves: Siblings Willow Smith and Jaden Smith accept the Youngstars award

But the show was really about the performances, which were plentiful. Mary J. Blige opened the ceremony, performing her hits 'All Night Long' and Real Love before being joined by Anita Baker. The divas performed a duet of Caught Up in the Rapture.

Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled and Ace Hood shared the stage for 'Hustle Hard.'

Alicia Keys unveiled a new song, before lapsing into A Woman's Worth, for which she was joined by Bruno Mars, and her hit, Fallin'.

Jill Scott sang in a speakeasy setting. Trey Songz took off his shirt during his performance, even after host Kevin Hart said the young singer looks 'like a beige greyhound' shirtless.

Opening act: Mary J. Blige, who opened the show, seen centre with DJ Khaled, right, and Judakiss

Across the Pond: Beyonce is seen in a taped performance from Glastonbury, England, at the BET Awards

Donnie McClurkin kicked off a gospel celebration, with Mary Mary and Deitrick Haddon joining in to sing Thank You.

Beyonce performed from across the pond: Her headlining set at the Glastonbury Music Festival was beamed into the Shrine from England.

Amid awards for the top artists, actors and athletes, Steve Harvey was recognized for his humanitarian work at the BET Awards.

Risque: Her former Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland, who is also a judge on the British version of X Factor, took to the stage with a topless male dancer to perform Motivation

Trio of fun: Rappers Drake, Lil Wayne, and DJ Khaled performing on stage together during the lively ceremony

BET Chairman and Chief Executive Debra Lee called the 54-year-old entertainer 'a true gentleman who acts like a comedian but thinks like a citizen of the world' as she presented him with the Humanitarian Award.

Harvey thanked God and his fellow philanthropists as he accepted the honour.

Patti LaBelle also accepted a special honour at Sunday's ceremony: Gladys Knight presented her with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

'I plan to hold myself up higher because I've gotten this wonderful award,' the 67-year-old singer said, and then she grabbed a microphone and sang a pair of hits, including the breakthrough 'Lady Marmalade.'