The BET Awards on Sunday night were full of excitement, with daring outfits, major victories, and a surprising announcement. Cardi B stunned the audience by revealing that she is pregnant with her second child with Offset during her surprise performance of Type S**t by Migos. Her sparkling bodysuit showcased her baby bump, which she confirmed on Instagram with a photo of her body cast. Along with this exciting news, Cardi B also won two awards for her hit song WAP with Megan Thee Stallion, who also took home two awards herself. Earlier in the night, Megan made waves on the red carpet by ditching her lingerie and donning a sultry ensemble alongside Saweetie and Ciara.
The BET Awards on Sunday night were full of excitement, with daring outfits, major wins, and a surprise announcement from Cardi B. The rapper revealed on Instagram that she is expecting her second child with Offset, simply captioning her post with ‘#2!’ and tagging her husband. The news quickly became the talk of the night, with even Marsai Martin commenting on the bump. Host Taraji P. Henson also weighed in, jokingly saying that Cardi and Offset are “really about that” after having their first child together in 2018. The couple initially met in 2017 and secretly got married in September of that year, before publicly announcing their engagement a month later. They briefly separated in late 2018 but quickly reconciled.
Cardi B and Offset were the big winners at the awards ceremony as the 28-year-old singer clinched two wins for her controversial hit, “WAP”. The song, which she collaborated on with rapper Megan Thee Stallion, won the coveted Video of the Year award as well as Best Collaboration. Megan also took home two awards of her own.
On her Instagram account, she shared a snapshot of her pregnant belly encased in a body cast announcing that she is anticipating the arrival of her second baby.
Saweetie added a touch of glam and excitement to the event as she made an impressive entrance while walking the red carpet with Megan.
Unveiled: The unveiling of a certain thing sparked discussions online and at the event, with Marsai Martin adding her thoughts on it.
The lovely pair, Cardi B and Offset, crossed paths in the beginning of 2017 and took their relationship to the next level by secretly getting married in September of the same year. They then made their engagement public a month later in October 2017.
In July 2018, the rapper welcomed her first child Kulture Kiari Cephus into the world. However, the couple briefly split in December 2018 before reconciling shortly after. Although Cardi has maintained a low profile in recent months, her pregnancy announcement came as a surprise to fans. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain when her second child is due. Fans were also taken aback when she didn’t appear on stage with Megan to receive the Best Music Video Award for WAP. On her Instagram story, however, Cardi expressed her gratitude, saying “Guys I did too much… but thank you sooo much BET.” Backstage, the artist was captured on camera watching the nominations for the award and sticking her tongue out when her name was announced.
Cardi B has been relatively quiet lately, so when she revealed her pregnancy, it caught many by surprise. However, it’s uncertain as to when her second child will arrive.
Awesome! The award-winning hit song “WAP” which features both WAP and Megan Thee Stallion has successfully nabbed two awards. The duo is seen in the video for the song.
Cardi B expresses her excitement after clinching the award for Best Music Video in a behind-the-scenes video.
The temperature rose as the popular artist, known for her hit song WAP, flaunted her legs in a long white dress that had a bullet bra-like top. Migos opened their performance wearing gas masks and sang their new hit song Straightenin followed by Type S**t with Cardi B. The latter joined them on stage in a bejeweled body suit that emphasized her baby bump. Meanwhile, Megan and her boyfriend Pardison Fontaine stepped out where she caught everyone’s attention in a gown without any lingerie. Pardison wore a black silky set with Prada loafers and rested his hand on Megan’s hips while kissing her on the cheek. In February, Megan confirmed their relationship during an Instagram live session, calling him “my boyfriend.”
Megan lit up the stage as she performed her chart-topping tune, Thot S**t. The audience went wild with excitement! Her amazing performance was followed by a well-deserved win for Best Music Video Award for her song WAP. Way to go, Megan!
Sending virtual hugs and kisses! While not performing on stage, Megan turned up the temperature in a gown that didn’t require lingerie as she made her entrance with boyfriend Pardison Fontaine. The trio of Megan, Saweetie, and Ciara made quite the impression earlier in the evening, causing heads to turn with their stunning red carpet looks.
Zendaya made a bold fashion statement at the awards show by flaunting a plunging purple dress with a sheer skirt while posing alongside Lil’ Kim. The event saw many celebrities, including Summer Walker, Kayykilo, Chloe Bailey, and Ebony Obsidian, opting for revealing dresses that left little to the imagination. The night kicked off with an electrifying performance by Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin, which received a thunderous response from the audience at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Taraji P. Henson, the host of the show, expressed her excitement about being among humans and thanked Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin for their performance. She promised that the audience would experience 100% of their full blackness that night and hailed it as the year of the black woman. Taraji also honored Issa Rae, Zendaya, Senator Maxine Waters, and other queens by handing out roses and inviting them to the front row.
Full of enthusiasm, Taraji P. Henson, the host of the event expressed her joy and delight by saying that she felt thrilled to be amongst fellow human beings. She then went on to extend her gratitude towards Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin.
The host of the event kicked off the night by announcing that she would be dressing up as some of her favorite Black women throughout the evening. She then proceeded to announce the nominees for Best Actress, with Andra Day ultimately taking home the award for her powerful portrayal in The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Day was genuinely surprised by the win and expressed her gratitude to BET for supporting her since her debut performance on their new talent stage in 2015. She thanked her family, costars, and the many black men who funded and supported the film, urging them to continue to uplift and promote Black voices in the industry. Overall, her speech was stirring and heartfelt, leaving a lasting impact on all those in attendance.
Paak expressed his gratitude by saying “BET, this holds tremendous value for us. We are grateful for it and thank you so much. There’s nothing more to add.”
Bruno Mars expressed his gratitude towards Jesse Collins, BET, Atlantic family, and everyone supporting them. Meanwhile, Marsai Martin took the stage to acknowledge Cardi B’s baby bump while presenting Silk Sonic, made up of Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, with the Best Group award. Paak thanked BET briefly, while Mars echoed Bruno Mars’s thanks towards Jesse Collins, BET, Atlantic family, and their families watching from home. The duo was elated with their win and expressed their heartfelt appreciation for it.
Ciara took the stage to deliver one of the numerous performances of the evening, and this time it was Tone Stith who got the chance to shine.
Ciara made a dazzling appearance on the red carpet, showing off her curves in a stunning, sparkling jumpsuit.
Ciara made an appearance on stage and introduced the talented Tone Stith who entertained the audience with his popular track, FWM. Later, H.E.R. also performed before the Best New Artist award was presented by Jill Scott, Michelle Buteau, Michelle Mitchenor, and Ryan Michelle Bathé. The deserving winner, Giveon, was not present to accept the award. The performance continued with Moneybagg Yo taking center stage and delivering an electrifying performance of his hit song, Time Today. Finally, DaBaby impressed the viewers with his excellent rendition of Ball If I Want To during the telecast.
During the recent event, H.E.R. performed before the Best New Artist award was presented. Giveon was announced as the winner, but he was not present at the ceremony to receive the award. Meanwhile, Lauren London graced the stage to pay tribute to Darnella Frazier. Frazier was the teenager who recorded the unfortunate death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year. In her speech, London commended Frazier’s bravery and transformative contributions to society. She emphasized how Frazier’s nine-minute and twenty-nine-second video footage using only her cell phone has helped bring to light the brutal past that we are trying to move away from. Ultimately, she stressed that sometimes, it only takes one person to push for accountability and change.
Chloe Bailey from Chloe x Halley had the honor of presenting the Best Female R&B Pop Artist award at the event, which ultimately went to H.E.R. During her introduction, Chloe praised Darnella, an activist who had recently been awarded an honorary Pulitzer Prize for her bravery. Although Darnella couldn’t attend the ceremony, Chloe felt it was important to recognize her contributions to social justice. As for H.E.R., she was pleasantly surprised to win the award and expressed her gratitude for both the recognition and the platform to perform. She even joked about having to fix her hair after giving it her all on stage.
Chloe introduces: The talented Chloe Bailey from Chloe x Halley had the honor of presenting the coveted Best Female R&B Pop Artist award, which was ultimately snagged by the incredible H.E.R.
The outcome surprised me: “Wow, I wasn’t expecting this at all! The performance was an absolute high, and I gave it my all. I’m immensely grateful for this award, but what matters most to me is the stage itself,” said H.E.R., who then went on to emphasize the importance of recognizing and celebrating one another.
Moreover, she highlighted that R&B and soul music serves as the foundation for country music, and other genres would be nonexistent without Black music’s influence.
Following her performance, Megan Thee Stallion sang her hit single Thot S**t and later received the Best Music Video Award for Wap. Although Cardi B declined the award, Megan accepted it when she went up on stage.
It’s crucial for us to acknowledge and honor one another during this phase, and I want to stress the significance of it. I can’t stress enough how important this step is.
Megan expressed her gratitude to everyone who supported Wap worldwide during her performance at the BET Awards. She also acknowledged the significance of R&B and soul music as the foundation of country music, emphasizing that without Black music, many other genres would not exist. Despite the pressure to change quickly after her performance, Megan took a moment to thank BET and the beautiful women in the front rows, particularly Black women, for being the culture both now and in the future. In another segment of the show, Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to Aretha Franklin, whom she portrays in the upcoming biopic Respect, which will be released on August 13.
Megan emerges victorious: Starting off, I was informed that I had only 120 seconds to slip into my dress after my performance and make my way to this spot, Megan stated.
In the speech, the speaker expressed surprise at how “they” knew it was going to be her. Despite this, she thanked everyone who supported Wap all over the world. The speaker then went on to talk about her privilege and honor in creating a tribute to Ms. Franklin’s remarkable life and legacy in an upcoming film, Respect. She acknowledged the passion and purpose with which the entire cast and crew approached the project, recognizing the significance of the film and the joy and blessing it was to tell Franklin’s incredible story. The speaker emphasized her determination to tell the story right and make Franklin proud, saying that she was extremely honored to have had the opportunity to celebrate and honor the queen of soul.
Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to the legendary Aretha Franklin during her performance. She portrays Aretha in the biopic Respect, which will be released in theaters on August 13 across the country.
Hudson expressed how honored and privileged she felt to have contributed to the upcoming film Respect, which pays tribute to the extraordinary life and legacy of Ms. Franklin. Meanwhile, Taraji P. Henson acknowledged tennis star Naomi Osaka, who made headlines for prioritizing her mental health over participating in the French Open. Tyler the Creator then took the stage for a unique performance. Issa Rae, creator and star of Insecure, highlighted the contributions of Black women in comedy before presenting Megan Thee Stallion with the award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist. Megan thanked Cardi B for including her in “Wap” and expressed her admiration for all of the women nominated in the category.
Issa Rae, the multi-talented creator and star of “Insecure,” took a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of Black women in the world of comedy. She then presented the Best Female Hip-Hop Artist award, which was deservedly won by the talented Megan Thee Stallion.
After catching her breath, the speaker expressed her gratitude to Cardi for giving her the opportunity to collaborate on Wap. She felt honored to be acknowledged by someone she admires so much and spoke highly of all the women nominated in her category. As someone who values female solidarity, she thanked her mother for instilling in her a work ethic, drive, and determination to become a female rapper. Even though her mother couldn’t be there with her, she remains a source of inspiration to her every day. Additionally, she expressed her appreciation to all the women who support her and thanked B.E.T. for dedicating the show to ‘the year of the woman.’ Later on, Maxine Walters took the stage to recite a part of her famous speech, and Jazmine Sullivan gave an electrifying performance of “On It” that left the crowd spellbound.
I’m all about supporting my fellow women: You know, it’s pretty clear that I am a big advocate for girl power. And honestly, I owe it all to my amazing mother. She instilled in me the desire to become a female rapper and taught me the importance of hard work, determination, and perseverance. While she may not be here with me now, I think about her every single day and she continues to be the driving force behind my success. Thank you, Mama!
Expressing gratitude, she also extended her thanks to the women who have been supportive of her and acknowledged B.E.T. for dedicating a show to “the year of the woman.” Before Saweetie presented the Album of the Year award, Roddy Ricch graced the stage with his performance of Late At Night. Jazmine Sullivan emerged as the winner of the prestigious award for her album Heaux Tales, which led to an emotional speech. Sullivan appeared alongside her mother, where she disclosed that they didn’t anticipate being there two years ago when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Nevertheless, she expressed her gratefulness to God for remaining faithful to them. The audience applauded as Jazmine declared that her mother is now in remission, and having her present with her is the best prize and gift she could ever receive.
Roddy Ricch took the stage to perform his hit track “Late At Night” just before Saweetie presented the highly coveted Album of the Year award. The award was presented to Jazmine Sullivan for her acclaimed album “Heaux Tales.”
Heartfelt: During her speech, accompanied by her mother, she shared an intimate moment of their journey, saying, “It’s unbelievable that we’re standing here today. Two years ago, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and it took us by surprise. But somehow, we made it through with the help of God’s grace.”
During the event, Jazmine shared some great news with the audience. Her mother is now in remission, and she couldn’t be happier. She was overwhelmed with emotions and stated that this news is her greatest prize and gift. Jazmine also expressed gratitude towards her mother for supporting and loving her all her life. She dedicated her award to all the black women who inspire her. The show had many other exciting performances, including Mereba’s Rider and Lil Nax X’s Montero (Call Me By Your Name). To end his performance, Lil Nax X kissed one of his dancers, and the crowd cheered. Naomi Campbell also took the stage to present Lil Baby with the Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Award.
Sevyn Streeter and DJ D-Nice put on a fresh show featuring Mereba’s performance of her popular track “Rider,” followed by Lil Nas X’s electrifying debut of his latest hit single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).”
At the end of his set, he surprised the audience by locking lips with one of his dancers, receiving cheers and applause. Following this, supermodel Naomi Campbell appeared on stage to present the Best Male Hip-Hop Artist Award to Lil Baby. In his speech, Lil Baby expressed gratitude towards Connie, BET, his label, and fans. The newly vaccinated crowd at Club Novo in L.A. Live had the pleasure of enjoying Silk Sonic’s performance of their popular track Leave The Door Open. Host Taraji P. Henson provided a brief history of booty-shaking before introducing City Girls, who performed their hit song Twerkulator.
Lil Baby secures the win: BET Awards announces Lil Baby as the Best Male Hip-Hop Artist.
The victor, Lil Baby expressed his excitement by greeting everyone with a friendly ‘How y’all doing?’ He went on to send a special message to Connie and BET, his label, and most importantly, his fans. This was conveyed in his concise speech.
The City Girls performed their hit song “Twerkulator” after Taraji P. Henson gave a brief history of booty-shaking. The cast of Tyler Perry’s Sistas, including KJ Smith, Mignon, Ebony Obsidian, Novi Brown, and Crystal Hayslett, presented the Best International Act Award to Nigeria’s Burna Boy. Burna Boy collected his award himself and thanked his mom, who he said was the most beautiful woman on Earth. He also promised to teach the audience a little bit about where they are really from. Queen Latifah received the Lifetime Achievement Award, which included a video tribute and tribute performances of her hit songs. She was almost moved to tears when accepting the award.
KJ Smith, Mignon, Ebony Obsidian, Novi Brown, and Crystal Hayslett, who are the stars of Tyler Perry’s Sistas, gave a shoutout to a simple yet essential accessory – the bonnet. They expressed their appreciation for the humble bonnet on stage.
Nigeria’s Burna Boy emerged as the victor of the Best International Act Award, gaining worldwide recognition.
As a mother and son duo, we are grateful to be standing here today to receive this award. I am proud to have made it here to collect it myself, and I want to express my gratitude to everyone who helped make this possible. Additionally, I want to give a special shoutout to my amazing mom, who would typically be delivering this speech for me since I’m not comfortable speaking on the microphone unless I’m singing. Nevertheless, my mom is present here, and she’s undoubtedly the most stunning woman on this planet. Thank you all once again.
The legendary Queen Latifah was bestowed with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, complete with a heartfelt video tribute and stunning performances of her iconic tracks like U.N.I.T.Y. by talented artists such as MC Lyte, Lil Kim, and others. Her reign as a true queen is undeniable.
MC Lyte and Lil Kim team up to pay homage to Queen Latifah during their performance on stage.
As she stepped onto the stage to receive the award, emotions ran high and she almost broke down. She expressed her gratitude towards B.E.T. for providing a platform for beautiful blackness to flourish and shine. She acknowledged that B.E.T. has been instrumental in giving artists like her a chance to showcase their talents when they were struggling to get airplay or video exposure elsewhere. She also thanked Shakim Compere, her long-time partner, without whom she claimed she wouldn’t be on the stage that night. She thanked him for always keeping his promise to her mother by protecting and loving her, and for being a constant friend throughout their journey.
Commitment: “I express my gratitude to you for fulfilling the commitment you made to my mother to safeguard me. Your constant protection, love, and friendship towards me up to this day are cherished and highly appreciated,” she expressed her heartfelt appreciation.
Expressing her gratitude, the speaker thanked B.E.T. for providing a platform for black artists to succeed and shine, especially during times when mainstream media outlets wouldn’t play their music or videos. She acknowledged the significance of being able to showcase their full potential and highlighted how it has helped them to thrive. Following this, the crowd was entertained by the performance of DJ Khaled, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Dababy along with Megan Thee Stallion performing Hats Off and I Did It. Awardees Ashanti and DJ Cassidy presented the Viewer’s Choice Award which was deservedly won by Megan Thee Stallion for her Savage remix featuring Beyoncé. The artist expressed her excitement and happiness on finally collaborating with Beyoncé, her dream collaborator. She thanked her fanbase, the Hotties, as well as the Beyhive for their support and votes.
The upcoming act on stage was none other than DJ Khaled, who was accompanied by Lil Baby, Lil Durk, and Dababy to perform their latest hit Hats Off. The performance became even more electrifying when Megan Thee Stallion joined them on stage to perform I Did It.
Ashanti and DJ Cassidy teamed up to announce the winner of the highly coveted Viewer’s Choice Award. The deserving recipient was none other than Megan Thee Stallion, who clinched the title with her hit song “Savage” remix featuring Queen Bey herself, Beyonce.
Megan expressed her adoration for Beyonce, stating that it is a well-known fact that she loves her. She has always dreamed of collaborating with Beyonce and has mentioned it in various interviews. Finally, her dream came true and she couldn’t be more grateful to Beyonce. Megan thanked her for the opportunity and reiterated her love for the artist.
Expressing gratitude: The rapper expressed her thanks to her fanbase, who are fondly called the Hotties, and Beyonce’s loyal followers, the Beyhive, for voting and supporting her. She acknowledged their contributions and said that they were valued.
Andra Day, a recipient of the Golden Globe and BET Award, performed Billie Holiday’s classic song Strange Fruit during the emotional in memoriam segment.
The show ended with a heartfelt tribute performance honoring the late DMX. The performance included a freestyle by Method Man and a performance by Griselda. Michael K. Williams also made an appearance on stage and performed an emotional freestyle with Busta Rhymes and other performers. The tribute culminated with all the performers crossing their arms in an X, paying homage to the late rapper as the show concluded.
Andra Day, a talented artist who has won prestigious awards such as the Golden Globe and BET Award, graced the audience with her enchanting voice as she performed one of Billie Holiday’s most beloved songs, Strange Fruit. This took place before the heartwarming segment that paid tribute to those who have passed, making for an emotional and memorable moment during the event.
Method Man delivered a heartfelt tribute performance to honor the late DMX, bringing a close to the show. The performance started off with a freestyle by Method Man and was followed by a soul-stirring performance by Griselda.
Michael K. Williams gave a heartfelt performance alongside Busta Rhymes and other artists, culminating in a touching tribute to the deceased rapper. The performers crossed their arms in an X as a final farewell to their late colleague.
