The 2020 BET awards were held this week.
The ceremony, which celebrates African American and other American minorities in the entertainment industry, was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Along with honoring black creatives and culture, the focus of the “Our Culture Can’t Be Canceled” themed night was the protests happening around America sparked by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other black people killed by police.
Keedron Bryant, 12, opened the show by singing his viral I Just Wanna Live song, and hip-hop group Public Enemy performed their 1989 classic Fight The Power.
Actress, comedian, and television personality Amanda Seales hosted the show and delivered a monologue addressing the current state of the country.
“Now, folks always say, ‘All Amanda ever does is talk about race.’ Well listen, I would love to talk about regular, everyday things, but racism always beats me to it,” she began.
Seales mentioned the names of Treyvon Martin and Botham Jean, who were killed by police, and pointed out that Breonna Taylor’s killers have still not been arrested.
“We deserve a break. When I say, we, I mean all us black folks watching the kneeling, the ‘I take responsibility’ vids and saying to ourselves, ‘Wow, y’all goofy.’ Because America is acting brand-new about racism,” she said.
The award for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist went to Lizzo and Best Male R&B/Pop Artist went to Chris Brown. He also won the Best Collaboration award for No Guidance featuring Drake.
Rapper Roddy Ricch won Album of the Year for Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial and DJ Khaled featuring Nipsey Hussle and John Legend won Video of the Year for Higher.
Gymnast Simone Biles and basketball player LeBron James won Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year.
The BET Her Award, which recognises traditional R&B artists, was awarded to Beyoncé for her song Brown Skin Girl, which features WizKid, Saint Jhn and her daughter Blue Ivy Carter. Beyoncé also won the Humanitarian award, presented to her by former First Lady Michelle Obama.
There were also performances paying tribute to stars who have passed away.
Wayne Brady gave an energetic performance honoring Little Richard. Dressed in a shimmery gold suit, he sang some of Richard’s greatest hits including Lucille and Good Golly, Miss Molly.
Lil Wayne honored the late L.A. Laker Kobe Bryant with his 2009 song Kobe Bryant. The performance included a video highlighting moments from his career and his daughter Gianna, who died in the helicopter crash along with her father in January.
Host Seales closed the show reiterating that Breonna Taylor’s killers be brought to justice.
The full list of nominees and winners are listed below: (winners indicated in bold)
Album of the Year
Cuz I Love You – Lizzo
Fever – Megan Thee Stallion
Homecoming: The Live Album – Beyoncé
I Used to Know Her – H.E.R.
Kirk – DaBaby
Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial – Roddy Ricch
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyoncé
H.E.R.
Jhene Aiko
Kehlani
Lizzo
Summer Walker
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Anderson .Paak
Chris Brown
Jacquees
Khalid
The Weeknd
Usher
Best Group
Chloe x Halle
City Girls
EarthGang
Griselda
JACKBOYS
Migos
Best Collaboration
Chris Brown Ft. Drake – No Guidance
DJ Khaled ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend – Higher
Future ft. Drake – Life Is Good
H.E.R. ft. YG – Slide
Megan Thee Stallion ft. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign – Hot Girl Summer
Wale ft. Jeremih – On Chill
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
DaBaby
Drake
Future
Lil Baby
Roddy Ricch
Travis Scott
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Lizzo
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Saweetie
Video of the Year
Chris Brown Ft. Drake – No Guidance
DaBaby – Bop
DJ Khaled ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend – Higher
Doja Cat – Say So
Megan Thee Stallion ft. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign – Hot Girl Summer
Roddy Ricch – The Box
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Cole Bennett
Dave Meyers
Director X
Eif Rivera
Teyana “Spike Tee” Taylor
Best New Artist
DaniLeigh
Lil Nas X
Pop Smoke
Roddy Ricch
Summer Walker
YBN Cordae
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational
Fred Hammond – Alright
John P. Kee ft. Zacardi Cortez – I Made It Out
Kanye West – Follow God
Kirk Franklin – Just for Me
PJ Morton ft. Le’Andria Johnson & Mary Mary – All In His Pain
The Clark Sisters – Victory
Best Movie
Bad Boys for Life
Dolemite Is My Name
Harriet
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé
Just Mercy
Queen & Slim
Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Cynthia Erivo
Issa Rae
Regina King
Tracee Ellis Ross
Zendaya
Best Actor
Billy Porter
Eddie Murphy
Forest Whitaker
Jamie Foxx
Michael B. Jordan
Omari Hardwick
Young Stars Award
Alex Hibbert
Asante Blackk
Jahi Di’Allo Winston
Marsai Martin
Miles Brown
Storm Reid
Sportswoman of the Year
Ajeé Wilson
Claressa Shields
Coco Gauff
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kawhi Leonard
LeBron James
Odell Beckham Jr.
Patrick Mahomes II
Stephen Curry
BET HER Award
Alicia Keys – Underdog
Beyoncé ft. Blue Ivy, WizKid & Saint Jhn – Brown Skin Girl
Ciara ft. Lupita Nyong’o, Ester Dean, City Girls & La La – Melanin
Layton Greene – I Choose
Lizzo ft. Missy Elliott – Tempo
Rapsody ft. PJ Morgan – Afeni
Viewer’s Choice Award
Chris Brown Ft. Drake – No Guidance
DaBaby – Bop
Future ft. Drake – Life Is Good
Megan Thee Stallion ft. Nicki Minaj – Hot Girl Summer
Roddy Ricch – The Box
The Weeknd – Heartless
Best International Act
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Innoss’B (DRC)
Sho Madjozi (South Africa)
Dave (U.K.)
Stormzy (U.K.)
Ninho (France)
S.Pri Noir (France)
Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act
Rema (Nigeria)
SHA SHA (Zimbabwe)
Celeste (U.K.)
Young T & Bugsey (U.K.)
Hatik (France)
Stacy (France)
Are you happy with these winners? Let us know by commenting below.
Written by Rekha Kulen