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Veteran Australia VMA host Ashlee Simpson helped Pete Wentz shoot down the rocky marriage rumors last night while he hosted the annual MTV bash in Sydney. 

Grabbing her rocker hubby by the collar, the singer and maybe-actress
provided a very public display of affection for the defenseless
audience. “Sorry we haven’t seen each other in a while,” she justified. And because nothing is
TMI for the pants-sharing couple, she added, “we’re going to find a
quiet place to go fornicate.”  Hey, at least she incorporated some Bible language  – Joe Simpson would be proud.

It was kind of a manic night for Mr. Wentz, who bagged a Best Rock Video Award and later dove off stage while the Kaiser Chiefs were performing.  The Killers opened the show, followed by performances by The Fray, Mauboy, Sia, Kaiser Chiefs, Kings of Leon (via satellite), and Vanilla Ice, who revived his classic hit “Ice Ice Baby.”  Australians do love them nineties. 

Pink‘s divorce anguish earned her Best Video for “So What” while Katy Perry was crowned Breakthrough Artist and Australia’s Sneaky Sound System won the Independent Spirit Award.  VMA princess Britney Spears also got some love, nabbing the Best Moves trophy – though of course she was too busy touring and texting Adnan Ghalib to fly down under.  

No word on how Audrina Patridge handled the red carpet, but good news: no Tara Reid-like nip-slip as of yet.

Gallery Info: Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson at the MTV Australia Awards 2009