The protagonists of the BET Awards 2022 did not avoid addressing the recent decision of the Supreme Court to overturn the judgment Roe v. Wade at the Sunday night ceremony.
The show began with host Taraji P. Henson, presenter Janelle Monae and winner of best female R & B / pop artist Jazmine Sullivan, criticizing the move for the first 17 minutes of the show.
“Guns have more rights than a woman,” Henson said in his monologue. “It’s a sad day in America. A weapon that can end lives has more power than a woman who can give life, if she wants to.
The Monae gave the middle finger and said, “Shit, Supreme Court” (the oath was censored, but the gesture was not), while Sullivan asked the men to support women in the fight for their rights.
Latto, winner of Best New Artist, later joined the criticism against the Supreme Court.
Other winners included Marsai Martin with the YoungStars Award – during his speech, he encouraged young people to use his voice to speak – and The Weeknd (who was not present) as best male R & B / pop artist.
BET Awards veteran Mary J. Blige, who three years ago received the career award during the show, won the BET Her Award for Good Morning Gorgeous. In her speech, Blige reflected on her career and all the honors she has earned over the years, saying she takes nothing for granted and is not yet ready to give up. “That’s just the beginning for me,” he said.
The awards, which honor “creative expression and black excellence through music, television, film and sports, are being handed out at the BET 2022 awards ceremony, which are broadcast live from of the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with Taraji P. Henson as host.
In addition, Sean “Diddy” Combs will be honored with the award for career on the show. He will also take to the stage for a tribute performance with Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Nas, Lil ‘Kim, Busta Rhymes, The Lox, Bryson Tiller, Faith Evans and The Maverick City Choir.
BET’s Connie Orlando oversaw the show, along with Jamal Noisette. Jesse Collins Entertainment is the producer with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay as executive producers.
The list of nominees below will be updated as they are announced live. Update last. Check out the photos of the red carpet here.
Best Female R & B / Pop Artist ARI LENNOXCHLÖEDOJA CATH.ERJAZMINE SULLIVAN (WINNER) MARY J. BLIGESUMMER WALKER
Best Male R & B / Pop ArtistBLXSTCHRIS BROWNGIVĒONLUCKY DAYETHE WEEKND (WINNER) WIZKIDYUNG BLEU
Best GroupBRUNO MARS, ANDERSON .PAAK, SILK SONICCHLÖE X HALLECITY GIRLSLIL BABY & LIL DURKMIGOSYOUNG DOLPH & KEY GLOCK
Best collaboration ESSENCE – WIZKID FEAT. JUSTIN BIEBER AND TEMS (WINNER) EVERY OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE – DJ KHALED FEAT. LIL BABY & LIL DURKFAMILY TIES – BABY KEEM & KENDRICK LAMARKISS ME MORE – DOJA CAT FEAT. SZAWAY 2 SEXY – DRAKE FEAT. FUTURE & YOUNG THUGWHOLE LOTTA MONEY (REMIX) – BIA FEAT. NICKI MINE
Best Female Hip Hop ArtistCARDI BDOJA CATLATTOMEGAN THEE STALLIONNICKI MINAJSAWEETIE
Best Male Hip Hop ArtistDRAKEFUTUREJ. COLEJACK HARLOWKANYE WESTKENDRICK LAMARLIL BABY
Video of the Year FAMILY TIES BABY KEEM & KENDRICK LAMAHAVE MERCY CHLÖEKISS ME MORE DOJA CAT FEAT. SZAPRESSURE ARI LENNOXSMOKIN FOR THE WINDOW BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON .PAAK, SILK SONICWAY 2 SEXY DRAKE FEAT. FUTURE AND YOUNG CAT
Video Director of the Year ANDERSON .PAAK AKA DIRECTOR .PAAKBENY BOOMBEYONCÉ AND DIKAYL RIMMASHDIRECTOR XHYPE WILLIAMSMISSY ELLIOTT
Best New ArtistBABY KEEMBENNY THE BUTCHERLATTO (WINNER) MUNI LONGTEMSYUNG BLEU
Album of the YearAN EVENING WITH SILK SONIC, BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON.PAAK, SILK SONICBACK OF MY MIND, HERCALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, TYLER, THE CREATORCERTIFIED LOVER BOY, DRAKEDONDA, KANYE WESTHEAUX TALES, MO ‘TALES: THE DELUXE HER, DOJA CAT
Dr. Bobby Jones award for best gospel / inspiration ALL IN YOUR HANDS, MARVIN SAPPCOME TO LIFE, KANYE WESTGRACE, KELLY PICEHALLELUJAH, FRED HAMMONDHOLD US TOGETHER (HOPE MIX), HER & TAUREN WELLSJIREH, ELEVATION WORSHIP & MAVERICK B KIRK FRANKLIN (WINNER)
BET HerBEST OF ME (ORIGINALS), ALICIA KEYSGOOD MORNING GORGEOUS, MARY J. BLIGE (GUNYADORA) HAVE MERCY, CHLOEPRESSURE, ARI LENNOXROSTER, JAZMINE SULLIVANUNLOYAL, SUMMER WALKER & ARI LENNOXW
Best International PerformanceDAVE (UK) DINOS (FRANCE) FALLY IPUPA (DRC) FIREBOY DML (NIGERIA) LITTLE SIMZ (UK) LUDMILLA (BRAZIL) MAJOR LEAGUE DJZ (SOUTH AFRICA) TAYC (FRANCE) TEMS (NIGERIA) (GUANY)
Best MovieCANDYMANKING RICHARDRESPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY SUMMER OF SOULTHES MORE DIFFICULT CHAIN
Best ActorADRIAN HOLMES, BEL AIRANTHONY ANDERSON, BLACK-ISHDAMSON IDRIS, SNOWFALLDENZEL WASHINGTON, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETHFOREST WHITAKER, RESPECT | HARLEMJABARI BANKS ‘FATHER, BEL AIRSTERLING K. BROWN, THIS IS USWILL SMITH, KING RICHARD
Best ActressAUNJANUE ELLIS, KING RICHARDCOCO JONES, BEL AIRISSA RAE, INSECUREJENNIFER HUDSON, RESPECTMARY J. BLIGE, POWER BOOK II: GHOSTQUEEN LATIFAH, THE EQUALIZERQUINTA BRUNSON, ABBOTT ELEMENTARYREGINA THE KING, THE F SPIDER-MAN: ON THE WAY HOME
YoungStars AwardAKIRA AKBARDEMI SINGLETONMARSAI MARTIN (WINNER) MILES BROWNSANIYYA SIDNEYSTORM REID
Athlete of the Year Award BRITTNEY GRINERCANDACE PARKERNAOMI OSAKASERENA WILLIAMSHA’CARRI RICHARDSONSIMONE BILES
Athlete of the Year AwardAARON DONALDBUBBA WALLACEGIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPOJA MORANTLEBRON JAMESSTEPHEN CURRY