Beyoncé’s BET speech: ‘Vote like our life is dependent upon it’

Beyoncé urged black communities to vote within the upcoming US elections, as she accepted an honour for her humanitarian work on the BET Awards.

Dedicating her award to protesters across the nation, the star mentioned: “You are proving to our ancestors that their struggles weren’t in useless.”

“I am encouraging you to proceed to take motion, proceed to vary and dismantle a racist and unequal system.

“We’ve to vote like our life is dependent upon it, as a result of it does.”

Beyoncé was offered along with her award by Michelle Obama, who praised the star’s dedication to the black neighborhood.

“You’ll be able to see it in every little thing she does, from her music that offers voice to black pleasure and black ache, to her activism that calls for justice for black lives.

“And she or he’s doing all of it whereas staying dedicated to her youngsters and the family members she holds expensive,” she continued. “To my lady, I simply need to say – you encourage me. You encourage all of us.”

The BET Awards have a good time black artists and sports activities personalities. Earlier recipients of the ceremony’s humanitarian award embrace boxer Muhammad Ali, music producer Quincy Jones and civil rights chief Rev. Al Sharpton.

The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, in addition to the continuing Black Lives Matter protests, had been mirrored all through this yr’s ceremony.

DaBaby, who received greatest male hip-hop artist, re-enacted the final moments of Mr Floyd’s life, rapping his hit Rockstar together with his face pressed in opposition to the bottom as a police officer knelt on his neck.

The efficiency additionally featured photographs from protests, as dancers held indicators that mentioned “Black Lives Matter” and “Defund The Police”, because the rapper and Roddy Ricch danced on high of police vehicles.

Twelve-year-old Keedron Bryant, who went viral on social media with a music about his fears of being a younger African-American, opened the present with an a cappella efficiency of the poignant observe, I Wanna Reside.

That was adopted by an all-star efficiency of Public Enemy’s 1989 anthem Battle the Energy, that includes Nas, YG, The Roots’ Black Thought, and Rapsody.

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Jennifer Hudson delivered a gospel rendition of Nina Simone’s Younger, Gifted and Black, whereas Alicia Keys carried out a haunting model of her new single A Excellent Approach To Die.

The star was seen taking part in the piano in a abandoned metropolis, surrounded by murals to Floyd, Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Sandra Bland.

Because the music ended, she stood up from her piano and knelt on the road, which had been stencilled with names of dozens of black women and men whose lives have been misplaced to racism and police brutality.

This yr’s BET Awards had been a digital occasion due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the performances and speeches had been pre-taped, permitting for dramatic stagings and excessive manufacturing values.

Wayne Brady paid tribute to rock and roll pioneer Little Richard, with an lively medley of Lucille, Good Golly Miss Molly and Tutti Frutti.

Afterward, Lil Wayne paid tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash earlier this yr.

Award recipients included Lizzo, who was named greatest feminine R&B/pop artist, beating Beyoncé, who has received the class 10 instances, together with the final six years in a row.

Megan Thee Stallion received greatest feminine hip-hop artist, after going through down a problem from two former winners, Cardi B and seven-time champion Nicki Minaj.

Chris Brown received greatest male R&B/pop artist for a file fifth time, whereas Michael B. Jordan picked up his third greatest actor trophy – tying him with Denzel Washington for essentially the most wins within the class.

Beyoncé’s eight-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter was additionally a winner, choosing up an award for her contribution to the music Brown Pores and skin Woman, from her mom’s Lion King album.

And gymnast Simone Biles – who just lately debuted a never-before-seen triple-twist, double again dismount from a stability beam – received sportswoman of the yr for the primary time.

She beat tennis legend Serena Williams, who had received 12 instances within the class, together with the final six years in a row.

Full listing of winners – BET Awards 2020

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST

• Beyonce
• H.E.R.
• Jhene Aiko
• Kehlani
• Lizzo – Winner
• Summer time Walker

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST

• Anderson Paak
• Chris Brown – Winner
• Jacquees
• Khalid
• The Weeknd
• Usher

BEST GROUP

• Chloe X Halle
• Metropolis Women
• Earthgang
• Griselda
• Jackboys
• Migos – Winner

BEST COLLABORATION

• Chris Brown Ft. Drake: No Steerage – Winner
• DJ Khaled Ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend: Greater
• Future Ft. Drake: Life Is Good
• H.E.R. Ft. YG: Slide
• Megan Thee Stallion Ft. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign: Scorching Woman Summer time
• Wale Ft. Jeremih: On Chill

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

• DaBaby – Winner
• Drake
• Future
• Lil Child
• Roddy Ricch
• Travis Scott

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

• Cardi B
• Doja Cat
• Lizzo
• Megan Thee Stallion – Winner
• Nicki Minaj
• Saweetie

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

• Chris Brown Ft. Drake: No Steerage
• DaBaby: Bop
• DJ Khaled Ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend: Greater – Winner
• Doja Cat: Say So
• Megan Thee Stallion Ft. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign: Scorching Woman Summer time
• Roddy Ricch: The Field

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

• Benny Growth
• Cole Bennett
• Dave Meyers
• Director X
• Eif Rivera
• Teyana “Spike Tee” Taylor – Winner

BEST NEW ARTIST

• Danileigh
• Lil Nas X
• Pop Smoke
• Roddy Ricch- Winner
• Summer time Walker
• YBN Cordae

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

• Cuz I Love You: Lizzo
• Fever: Megan Thee Stallion
• Homecoming: The Reside Album: Beyonce
• I Used to Know Her: H.E.R.
• KirK: DaBaby
• Please Excuse Me For Being AntisociaL: Roddy Ricch – Winner

DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

• Fred Hammond: Alright
• John P. Kee Ft. Zacardi Cortez: I Made It Out
• Kanye West: Comply with God
• Kirk Franklin: Simply For Me – Winner
• Pj Morton Ft. Le’Andria Johnson & Mary Mary: All In His Plan
• The Clark Sisters: Victory

BEST ACTRESS

• Angela Bassett
• Cynthia Erivo
• Issa Rae – Winner
• Regina King
• Tracee Ellis Ross
• Zendaya

BEST ACTOR

• Billy Porter
• Eddie Murphy
• Forest Whitaker
• Jamie Foxx
• Michael B. Jordan – Winner
• Omari Hardwick

YOUNGSTARS AWARD

• Alex Hibbert
• Asanta Blackk
• Jahi Di’Allo Winston
• Marsai Martin – Winner
• Miles Brown
• Storm Reid

BEST MOVIE

• Unhealthy Boys For Life
• Dolemite Is My Title
• Harriet
• Homecoming: A Movie by Beyonce
• Simply Mercy
• Queen & Slim – Winner

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

• Ajee Wilson
• Claressa Shields
• Coco Gauff
• Naomi Osaka
• Serena Williams
• Simone Biles – Winner

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Kawhi Leonard
• LeBron James – Winner
• Odell Beckham Jr.
• Patrick Mahomes II
• Stephen Curry

BET HER AWARD

• Alicia Keys: Underdog
• Beyonce Ft. Blue Ivy Carter, Wizkid & Saint Jhn: Brown Pores and skin Woman – Winner
• Ciara Ft. Lupita Nyong’o, Ester Dean, Metropolis Women & La La: Melanin
• Layton Greene: I Select
• Lizzo Ft. Missy Elliott: Tempo
• Rapsody Ft. PJ Morton: Afeni

VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

• Chris Brown Ft. Drake: No Steerage
• DaBaby: Bop
• Future Ft. Drake: Life Is Good
• Megan Thee Stallion Ft. Nicki Minaj: Scorching Woman Summer time – Winner
• Roddy Ricch: The Field
• The Weeknd: Heartless

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

• Burna Boy (Nigeria) – Winner
• Innoss’B (DRC)
• Sho Madjozi (South Africa)
• Dave (UK)
• Stormzy (UK)
• Ninho (France)
• S.Pri Noir (France)

VIEWER’S CHOICE: BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT

• Rema (Nigeria)
• Sha Sha (Zimbabwe) – Winner
• Celeste (UK)
• Younger T & Bugsey (UK)
• Hatik (France)
• Sracy (France)

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