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BET Awards 2022: Lizzo, Janelle Monae and more make powerful statements on Supreme Court ruling, plus Mariah Carey and Lil Nas X (kind of) make an appearance

Mariah Carey, Lizzo, Janelle Monae, Lil Nas X (kind of) and more! The BET Awards was held in Los Angeles on Sunday (June 26) and it was a very busy night.

 

In light of Roe v Wade being overturned by the Supreme Court last week, it’s no surprise that music artists would be utilizing global industry events to highlight the gross human rights violations happening in the US right now.

 

In the UK, at Glastonbury Festival over the weekend, Olivia Rodrigo, Lily Allen, Billie Eilish, Phoeobe Bridges, Megan thee Stallion and more used their time onstage to highlight the mood of the majority – that what’s happening in the US right now over abortion rights is completely fucking shameful disgusting. (more vids from Glasto at the bottom of this article)

 

Meanwhile, in the US, the BET Awards was held in Los Angeles on Sunday and stars including Lizzo, Janelle Monae and Jazmine Sullivan slayed their screen time royally at the ceremony by using it to condemn the Supreme Court’s decision.

 

Empire actor Taraji Henson was on hosting duties for the show, which celebrates Black music and entertainment, and the stars in attendance all made their points about the ruling in one way or another.

 

“It’s a sad day in America,” Henson said, thanking Lizzo who recently donated $1m in tour proceeds to Planned Parenthood.

“A weapon that can take lives has more power than a woman that can give life – if she chooses to.”
 

While Janelle Monae held up her middle finger toward the court before introducing the nominees for the best female R&B/pop artist and her speech received a standing ovation.

“These artists are making art on our own terms, owning our truths and expressing ourselves freely and unapologetically in a world that tries to control and police our bodies, my body and our decisions,” she said.

 

When the winner was announced as Jazmine Sullivan, she used her moment to continue the same message – and call for support from males as well.

“I want to speak directly to the men: We need y’all. We need y’all to stand up, stand up for us, stand up with us,” she told the audience.

“If you’ve ever benefited from a woman making one of the toughest decisions of her life, which is to terminate a pregnancy, you need to be standing.

“This is not just a woman issue. This is everybody’s issue. We need your support more than ever.”

Mariah Carey slayed a surprise appearance, videos below (image: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock)

Elsewhere in completely fucking ridiculous injustices, Lil Nas X, inarguably one of the most successful Black entertainment artists of the last year, and who is gay, was snubbed from the BET Awards, which celebrates Black music and entertainment, nominations.

He’s not exactly been quiet on the matter either (and who can blame him).

 

Lil Nas X last got nominated for a BET Award (Best New Artist ) in 2020 but hasn’t received a nomination since, even though he had TWO no. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021. Not to mention garnering the Awards weeks worth of global coverage because of this, now infamous, 2021 kiss….

Jack Harlow made his feelings about his Industry Baby collaborator’s snub quite clear by sporting a Lil Nas X t-shirt on the red carpet, before performing at the ceremony with Brandy.

Jack Harlow BET Awards 2022 (Image Getty)

On June 24, Nas released his latest single “Late to Da Party,” which includes a “Fuck BET” chorus.

Nas and members of his team told Rolling Stone that before the singer’s BET performance last year – in which kissed a male backup dancer – the network “was hesitant when booking Nas, asking for his team’s confirmation that he wasn’t a ‘satanist or devil worshiper,’ the rapper claims.”

 

They also reported that the performance, and the kiss specifically, left certain network producers upset.

“My relationship with BET has been painful and strained for quite some time. It didn’t start with this year’s nominations like most people might think,” Nas told Rolling Stone in a statement.

“They did let me perform on their show last year, but only after [I gave] assurances that I was not a satanist or devil worshiper, and that my performance would be appropriate for their audience.”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 27: Lil Nas X performs onstage at the BET Awards 2021 at Microsoft Theater on June 27, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)

In response, a BET spokesperson said that the “summation of events around Lil Nas X’s 2021 BET Awards performance is simply untrue.”

“Since last year’s performance, we have been in touch to work on other projects,” the rep adds. “We are still excited about his previous performances and continue to wish him well. But today, we are focused on culture’s biggest night and delivering history-making moments for fans worldwide.”

 

Elsewhere, Latto surprised fans with an onstage appearance from icon Mariah Carey, where both SLAYED a performance of Big Energy:

 

 

In other news from the 2022 BET Awards, Jussie Smollett received a mixed response for his appearance. Click here. 

 

More clips below

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by GLUE magazine 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ (@thegluemagazine)

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by GLUE magazine 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ (@thegluemagazine)

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