Topless protester crashes Junos broadcast, Weeknd wins 5th award

A wildly unpredictable Juno Awards unfolded on Monday as a topless protester charged the stage, leading to some feisty words from Avril Lavigne, while an absent the Weeknd emerged the top winner this year.

A wildly unpredictable Juno Awards unfolded on Monday as a topless protester charged the stage, leading to some feisty words from Avril Lavigne, while an absent the Weeknd emerged the top winner this year.

With a few twists and turns, Canada's biggest celebration of music did away with its typically tame proceedings shortly after the broadcast got underway. Lavigne was interrupted by a topless woman who leapt on the stage wearing pasties and "land back" painted on her arm.

The pop-punk princess appeared blindsided by the crasher and proceeded to swear at her, demanding she get off the stage. The person was quickly escorted away by security.

Unfazed, Lavigne moved on to introduce a performance by Punjabi-Canadian singer and rapper AP Dhillon.

She returned later to accept this year's fan choice award with a few choice words and another expletive: "Nobody try anything this time or the Canadian is going to come out of me and I'll (mess) a b---- up."

The unexpected moment set the tone for an energetic Junos that saw the Weeknd's smash hit "Dawn FM" earn him album of the year, adding to four wins he scored at a Saturday industry event, including artist and single of the year for "Sacrifice."

WARNING: The video in the following embed contains strong language.