We rely on rock stars, rappers--and yes, even reality-show regulars--to set trends. It's a responsibility that, we admit, requires some risk.

But with risk does not always come reward. And at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards, we saw more than one example of that.

Here are a few of the valiant red-carpet efforts (and one complete lack thereof, thanks to Fatman Scoop) that we just can't condone: