2025 BET Awards will roll Monday night despite protests and unrest in DTLA
The BET Awards are going on Monday in downtown L.A. as planned, despite protests and unrest over the weekend linked to stepped up immigration enforcement by the federal government and the presence of members of the California National Guard.
The show, which will air live from the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live for the East Coast and on tape delay here in the west, honors 'the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories,' according to BET. This year marks the first quarter-century of the annual celebration, which started with the inaugural BET Awards in 2001. That show, held in Las Vegas, was hosted by Cedric the Entertainer and Steve Harvey.
Kevin Hart will host this time around, with scheduled performers including Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, GloRilla, Playboi Carti and Leon Thomas.
'For over a decade, Kevin Hart has been a beloved part of the BET family, and we couldn't be more excited to have him return to host the 25th anniversary BET Awards,' Scott Mills, BET president and chief executive, said in a statement. 'His unparalleled talent, infectious energy, and deep connection to our audience make him the perfect host for this historic celebration.'
'We're setting the tone for a night that celebrates 25 years of impact, creativity, and Black culture,' said Connie Orlando, an executive vice president at BET, in a statement. 'With electrifying performances from some of the biggest names in music and an iconic comedic host, BET Awards 2025 will be a can't-miss celebration of everything the culture represents.'
Kendrick Lamar is the most nominated performer for this year's awards, with his 10 nods topping the six each held by Doechii, Drake, Future and GloRilla. Metro Boomin is looking at five nominations, with SZA and the Weeknd tied with four each. There's also a crowd of seven who have three nominations each: Ayra Starr, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Maverick City Music, Playboi Carti, Teddy Swims and Tyler, the Creator.
The BET Ultimate Icon Award will be given Monday night to Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey, Kirk Franklin and Snoop Dogg, multi-hyphenates all, who will be honored for their decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy and community impact.
Also on the agenda: A 25-year tribute to MTV's music video countdown show '106 & Park' that features an onstage reunion of former hosts Julissa Bermudez, A.J. Calloway, Keshia Chanté, Rocsi Diaz, Terrence J and Marie Wright, a.k.a. Free.
Bow Wow, Amerie, B2K, Jim Jones, Mya, T.I. and more will perform as part of the tribute, 'bringing back the culture-defining energy, music, and moments of the history-making franchise,' BET said in a news release.
Audiences can tune in to BET at 8 p.m. or show up early for the preshow, which begins at 6 p.m.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Doechii criticizes 'ruthless' Trump administration at BET Awards amid Los Angeles protests
Doechii criticizes 'ruthless' Trump administration at BET Awards amid Los Angeles protests Show Caption Hide Caption See how Los Angeles protests intensified over one weekend What started as a small protest over immigration raids on Friday ballooned into large demonstrations throughout the weekend. Here's what happened. Doechii is getting on the mic for a different cause. During a June 9 appearance at the BET Awards, the Grammy-winning rapper used her acceptance speech to speak out on the dayslong protests in Los Angeles. The "Anxiety" emcee, 26, was recognized with the award for best female hip-hop artist at the star-studded ceremony held at downtown LA's Peacock Theater. "As much as I'm honored by this award, I do want to address what's happening right now outside of the building," Doechii said. "There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order. Trump is using military forces to stop a protest." Doechii's remarks come a few days after several demonstrations erupted across Los Angeles county in response to a handful of immigration raids. "I want y'all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?" Doechii continued in her BET Awards speech. ICE protests in LA escalate amid troop deployment The federal invasions, carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), took place in several parts of the city, including outside a Home Depot and a clothing manufacturer in the downtown garment district. The protests had largely been peaceful but flared up when heavily armed, masked agents raided Los Angeles businesses, ending in charred self-driving cars, freeway shut-downs and clouds of tear gas. ICE is carrying out a directive from President Donald Trump to find immigrants living in the United States without legal status. The protests have sprung up against the sweeps the agency is carrying out in various neighborhoods across the sprawling metropolitan area. After small protests against the raids on June 6, President Trump took several swift actions, including calling in the 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines, which drew ire — and at least one lawsuit — from state officials who accuse the president of stoking tension and escalating unrest. Stars speak out on LA protests: Doechii blasts Trump, Finneas reveals teargassing Trump has stood by his actions, saying the deployments were necessary to contain what he described as "violent, instigated riots." About 150 people have been arrested at the protests, which have included flareups of unruly clashes, vandalism and looting, but have remained limited to a few blocks in the city's downtown area. Doechii isn't the only star who's gotten on her soapbox amid the protests. The federal response similarly prompted backlash from celebrities such as Finneas and Reneé Rapp, who have blasted the Trump administration for inciting the violence it claims to be addressing. "People are being swept up and torn from their families, and I feel it's my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people: for Black people, for Latino people, for trans people, for the people in Gaza," Doechii concluded. "We all deserve to live in hope and not in fear. And I hope we stand together, my brothers and my sisters, against hate and we protest against it." 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé Watch Doechii's BET Awards speech Contributing: Christopher Cann and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Shreveport artwalk showcases local artists and live music
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — The next free Downtown Artwalk is bringing art, live music, local shopping, and food to Shreveport. Boom or Bust Byway sculpture signage unveiling this weekend Explore downtown Shreveport and make some stops along the way. Local artists works will be displayed at various locations, including: ShreveTowne Barber Shop – 514 Crockett Street Crockett Street Trading Company – 431 Crockett Street On Set Studios – 425 Crockett Street The Glass Hat – 423 Crockett Street Apotheworx Pharmacy – 429 Crockett Street Critter's Corral – 408 Cotton Street There are also food options. The Glass Hat will serve shrimp and grits, chile verde, and beignets, and Critter's Corral will offer snacks and Coke products. Shreveport's 'Art•ish event highlights diverse Black artists The event will also feature live glass blowing demonstrations at Sanctuary Glass and live music from Kenny & Kyle at the corner of Crockett and Marshall. The Shreveport Downtown Artwalk is on June 11 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Doechii Wins Her First BET Award and Uses Her Speech as a Call for Justice
Doechii Wins Her First BET Award and Uses Her Speech as a Call for Justice originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Grammy-winning rapper Doechii won Best Female Hip Hop Artist at the 2025 BET Awards. She used her acceptance time on stage as a powerful call for justice, condemning Trump's immigration crackdown and the military response to the protests. After receiving her first BET award and acknowledging her fellow nominees, Doechii shifted her speech towards the events unfolding in Los Angeles, questioning the state of our city and government."There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order," she said. "Trump is using military forces to stop a protest. I want you all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?"The BET awards took place on Sunday night amid a weekend of protests over immigration raids. On Monday, President Donald Trump responded to the chaos by authorizing the mobilization of over 4,000 National Guard members to protect federal property. California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, have criticized the action as unconstitutional and have filed lawsuits claiming the deployment occurred without the state's consent. Others have alleged that the Trump administration used military force to incite disorder and intimidate used her big win to speak up against the injustice, inspiring loud applause from the audience. The artist's speech was the only direct response to the chaos ensuing in the surrounding area of the event. 'People are being swept up and torn from their families,' she continued. 'I feel like it's my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people … We all deserve to live in hope and not fear. I hope we stand together.'The 25th anniversary of the BET Awards took place just blocks from where National Guard troops are now stationed, highlighting the intersection of entertainment and political activism as celebrities increasingly use their platforms to raise awareness. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
