Keys responds to Lil Mama stage crash

Alicia Keys has said that she would have preferred Lil Mama to remain in her seat during her closing VMAs performance with Jay-Z.

The America's Best Dance Crew judge stage crashed Keys and Jay-Z's 'Empire State Of Mind' set at the MTV awards show last weekend.

Keys told The Today Show: "I would rather not speak about it because the performance was so phenomenal it doesn't even matter about anything else. Jay-Z and I are native New Yorkers, it's kind of a classic New York song like new Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli... I can appreciate her being overwhelmed and inspired but we would have preferred she did it from her seat."

The 19-year-old MC has recently released an apology for her unscripted stage appearance and has admitted that she regrets the incident.

Lil Mama told MTV: "I didn't know what Jay said. I thought he was like, 'OK, enjoying the moment with me, interacting', which was after I walked up. But after watching it from home, watching myself on the internet, I'm bouncing and I'm coming up toward Jay-Z and he's backing up. And my emotions at the time was like a vibe, like, 'Yeah, New York', I was definitely caught up in the moment.

"He was backing up and when I got home I realised he said, 'Oh, you gonna T-Pain it, huh'. I realised it when I got home. Now that I'm home, I was like, 'Wow, Jay-Z wasn't feeling it'. I would never get up there and try to disrespect Jay-Z or take a moment that someone else created and try to live it. I'm too original for that and I respect him too much for that."

She added: "To Jay in particular, as a Brooklyn native - who I am also - in that moment it was nothing but respect and honour... It was a joyous moment. Whenever we share happiness or a celebration takes place, usually it's graceful, it's never to disrespect. I never meant any harm. I was enjoying myself and I was enjoying his performance. I got love for him and I love you, Jay-Z."