Nicky Minaj's MTV wardrobe malfunction 'rehearsed'

Nicki Minaj poses at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards in the dress that she later suffered a 'wardrobe malfunction' in. Photo/Getty

Rapper Nicki Minaj's embarrassing wardrobe malfunction at the 2014 Video Music Awards was planned all along.

The Super Bass hitmaker hit headlines when she clutched her open dress together while performing her Bang Bang collaboration with Ariana Grande and Jessie J onstage at the ceremony.

Speaking after the Los Angeles ceremony, Minaj insisted she ran out of time to zip the gown up.

But it is now being reported the malfunction was actually a pre-meditated stunt.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ.com that Minaj rehearsed the performance with the same dress problem and constantly rearranged how she would hold the gown together.

Earlier, Minaj said she wanted to perform her hit song Anaconda with a live snake, but it was banned after it attacked a female dancer during rehearsals.

When asked if she thought the performance would have been better with the reptile, she replied: "Yes!"

- WENN with nzherald.co.nz