Nicki Manaj hit the stage 3 times last night during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards but it was her wardrobe malfunction that had people talking.

During Minaj’s performance of ?Bang Bang? alongside Ariana Grande and Jessie J., she appeared onstage clutching her revealing black YSL dress throughout the entire number, and it seemed she just barely avoided another not-safe-for-TV moment.

[FLASHBACK: Wardrobe Malfunction: Nicki Minaj’s ‘Good Morning America’ Nip Slip… (PHOTOS/VIDEO)]

Nicki hit the net to explain, stating:

But wait… word on the curb is that Nicki’s ‘wardrobe malfunction’ was actually a calculated publicity stunt.

More details about Nicki’s wardrobe stunts & shows + watch video of her VMA 2014 performance below…

According to TMZ, Nicki Minaj’s ‘wardrobe malfunction’ was a bunch of bullshhhhhh….:

Nicki Minaj CLAIMS her dress was unzipped during her performance at the VMAs because she didn’t have enough time to get ready … but that’s BS — she pulled the same stunt during rehearsals.

Eyewitnesses who watched Nicki’s rehearsal Sunday morning tell TMZ … she walked on stage wearing the same dress — unzipped. One eyewitness says it caught her eye because she initially thought Nicki had come out in a robe.

We’re told Nicki was wrapping her arms around the dress in a “weird” sort of way … trying to manipulate it to see how much would be exposed.

And we’re told … the VMAs created a make-shift dressing room right off stage — draped with black sheets — so she would have enough time to change.

Whatever, it worked … everyone’s talking about it.

CLICK HERE to watch video of all of the 2014 MTV Video Music Award Performances.