Pharrell William (L) and Diddy perform onstage
A huge occasion which feeds our endless appetite for star gawking, the BET Awards celebrated its 15th anniversary Saturday night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Calif. A significant cultural event that has emerged as one of the biggest nights in black entertainment, Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj were big winners. Since 2011, Minaj has won multiple BET accolades. This time she won the award for viewers choice and another best female hip hop artist award while Beyonce won three BET Awards, including video of the year for “7/11.”
With throwback performances and appearances from old school artists, Janet Jackson was honored with the iconic music dance visual award. Other performers included Lil Kim, Mase, Faith Evans, 112, The Lox, P. Diddy, Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Alicia Keys and Chris Brown who also won best male R&B/pop artist and the fandemonium award. Ghana’s Stormzy took home the best international act UK award while Stonebwoy beat out Sarkodie and Wizkid for the BET Award for best international act Africa.
The event was hosted by actors Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, stars from the American TV series “Black-ish” who had the crowd in fits of laughter with jokes about Rachel Dolezal, the former president of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP. Established in 2001 to celebrate African-Americans and other minorities in music, film, sports and other fields of entertainment, the first ever Black Entertainment Awards was hosted by comedians Steve Harvey and Cedric ‘The Entertainer’ and was held in Las Vegas.
Complete List Of Winners:
Ultimate Icon, Music Dance Visual Award: Janet Jackson
Humanitarian Award: Tom Joyner
Best New Artist: Sam Smith
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: Beyoncé
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Chris Brown
Best International Act UK: Stormzy
Best International Act Africa: Stonebwoy
Best Group: Rae Sremmurd
Best Collaboration: Common & John Legend, “Glory”
Best Actress: Taraji P. Henson
Best Actor: Terrence Howard
Youngstars Award: Mo’ne Davis
Best Movie: Selma
Best Gospel Artist: Lecrae
Video of the Year: Beyoncé, “7/11”
Video Director of the Year: Beyoncé, Ed Burke & Todd Tourso
Sportswoman of the Year: Serena Williams
Sportsman of the Year: Stephen Curry
Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award: Nicki Minaj f/ Drake, Lil’ Wayne & Chris Brown, “Only”
Centric Award: The Weeknd, “Earned It”
Fandemonium Award: Chris Brown
Lifetime Achievement Award: Smokey Robinson
By Samantha Ofole-Prince/Photos by Christopher Polk
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