On Sunday night (June 28), the BET 2020 Awards didn’t skip a beat, even after being forced to take the virtual route due to the global pandemic. With presenter Amanda Seales as quarterback at the three-hour festivities, a host of black celebrities made flashy presentations and poignant speeches as if they were center stage on the Staples Center.
In case you were unable to tune in, check out some of the moments you missed during Sunday’s star-studded event.
From just fans to just fists
Presenter Amanda Seales did not hold back, scolding the United States for its inaction regarding the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and more. Her monologue also spoke of her fears that Americans would whiten Juneteenth and transform the black party into a day reduced by wearing Frederick Douglass shirts while drinking in bars. In addition, she joked about people who quickly went from being Only Fans enthusiasts to Civil Rights activists in seconds and hoping that their change is not temporary and that they all maintain that same energy during the fight for change.
“Now they are talking about Juneteenth. That is nonsense! But you are not leaving Cinco de Mayo today,” he said. “If we’re not paying attention, every June 19, people are going to be at the bar in Frederick Douglass wig hats, ordering ‘Harriettinis’ for the special drink.”
Rap Heroes aims to fight power
Following the death of George Floyd, Warner Records’ newly signed screenwriter Keedron Bryant gained national acclaim after his chilling Instagram performance of his song “I Just Wanna Live.” To kick off the BET 2020 Awards, Bryant provided a captivating performance of his energetic hymn. Subsequently, lyrical heavyweights Nas, Black Thought, YG, Rapsody, and more joined Public Enemy to put a modern spin on the group’s 1989 classic “Fight the Power” in light of the heightened racial injustice affecting African Americans in recent months.
Roddy Ricch does a double shift
2020 Rap MVP nominee Roddy Ricch was active on Sunday night. Not only did he flex his piano skills while rapping “High Fashion,” but he also gave fans a nice chunk of his Billboard Hot 100 single, “The Box,” while sporting a button-down shirt from Black Lives Matter. Roddy later partnered with DaBaby for his second performance when they offered “Rockstar (Black Lives Matter Remix).”
D Smoke keeps it all in the family
Netflix’s Rhythm and flow Season one winner D Smoke and his brother, the TDE SiR singer, teamed up to perform “Let Go,” a song recorded the same day that police officers ruthlessly killed George Floyd in Minnesota. With police officers patrolling the set designed by Inglewood Street, the musical tandem dazzled as it delivered the powerful track. They even received a helping hand from their mother, singer Jackie Gouche, when they transitioned to “Black Habits.”
Megan Thee Stallion rides dirty in the desert
Two days after releasing her Eazy E-inspired album “Girls in the Hood,” Megan Thee Stallion ventured out into the wilderness to perform her scorching new song. After riding dirty with her crew in ATVs, Meg had a binge when she started her “Savage (Remix)”. Without Beyonce, Megan did a masterful job, courtesy of her army of dancers and high-octane energy.
DaBaby takes a stand against police brutality
Always fearless in his approach, DaBaby maintained his bold streak of doing the unthinkable intact with his “Rockstar” (Black Lives Matter) performance. Recreating the horrible death of George Floyd, Baby encounters a policeman’s leg around his neck at the beginning of the clip. After their verse remix, Baby and Roddy jumped into protest mode. In an all-black outfit with a group of black protesters holding signs like “Defund the police,” the newly-loved rap duo began a crushing career, rapping on top of police cars.
Little Richard and Kobe Bryant receive special tributes
Wayne Brady wove a potpourri in honor of one of rock’s founding fathers, Little Richard. Brady captured Richard’s aura with his flamboyant outfit and infectious energy, dancing through “Lucille”, “Good Golly Ms. Molly” and “Tutti Frutti”. Later, Lil Wayne paid tribute to his fallen friend Kobe Bryant with his 2009 tribute song. Named after Bryant, Wayne added a new verse, where he offered his condolences to his family and spoke about the left-handed accomplishments of the Lakers legend. .
Two queens, a humanitarian award
Former First Lady Michelle Obama warmly praised Beyonce when she presented her with the BET Humanitarian of the Year Award, and cited her as an inspiration to denounce sexism and racism. Queen Bey’s previous efforts date back to her contributions to Houston during Hurricane Harvey to provide free tests for COVID-19 in her hometown.
“I want to dedicate this award to all my brothers and all my sisters, inspiring me, marching and fighting for change. Their voices are heard,” said Beyonce during her acceptance speech. She also encouraged viewers to vote in this year’s upcoming election in hopes of dismantling “a racist and uneven system” in the United States.
“We have to vote as if our life depended on it, because it is so,” he said.
