Superstar couple Jay Z and Beyonce got caught in the middle of a bust-up between Sean '' Combs and his rap pal J. Cole at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty on Sunday (25Aug13).

Combs and Cole clashed following a heated exchange of words at the bash at New York's Dream Hotel, and the 99 Problems hitmaker had to intervene and pull the warring pair apart, according to the New York Daily News.

Cole, real name Jermaine Lamarr Cole, was escorted out of the building following the scuffle, but Combs later took to Twitter.com to play down the incident, dismissing it as a loud argument between two friends.

He writes, "I usually don't address rumours but I got too much respect for my bro J. Cole. We are friends. We just yell in public sometimes."

The red-and-black themed party was attended by a host of celebrities including Rita Ora, Jamie Foxx, will.i.am, Russell Simmons and Busta Rhymes.