5 things you missed at the 2020 BET Awards, from Black Lives Matter tributes to Beyoncé reigning

BET celebrated its 40 th year as a network, and its 20 th awards show, with the effective 2020 BET Awards on Sunday.

Hosted by “Insecure” star Amanda Seales, the program was presented virtually for the first time due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But that did not moisten the voices in the very first major awards reveal because George Floyd passed away May 25 while in Minneapolis authorities custody, which has led to continued nationwide protests and sustained require social modification.

Here are the 5 most significant minutes from the awards program, which honored Floyd’s memory, Black Lives Matter, Beyoncé’s humanitarian work and Kobe Bryant’s legendary basketball skills.

Michelle Obama: Pays tribute to Beyoncé, presenting BET Humanitarian Award to ‘The Queen’

George Floyd, Black Lives Matter tributes reigned

The tributes to Black Lives Matter, Floyd and other victims of cops cruelty were frequent in the awards program, including a brand-new video from “The Voice” judge John Legend, “Never Ever Break,” which features the chorus, “we will never ever break.”

Rap artist DaBaby carried out ” Rockstar” with an actor representing a police officer pressing his knee on his neck, reproducing the last couple of moments of Floyd’s life. Roddy Ricch, whose “Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial” won album of the year, wore a Black Lives Matter shirt while performing “High Fashion” and “Package.”

Alicia Keyes sang an emotional “Perfect Method to Pass Away,” with the lyrics, “Think of all you might have done, a minimum of you’ll stay forever young,” shot on a city street filled with the names of Black victims of brutality. This was followed by celebrities reading off the names of Black lives lost in what Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, called “the over 400- year-long pandemic called bigotry.”

Floyd’s was the last name, read by Jamie Foxx.

Beyoncé was blessed ‘The Queen’ by Michelle Obama

The previous very first woman began the homages to Beyoncé, who was bestowed the Humanitarian Award.

” I am here to speak about The Queen, you know the one,” Obama stated in a video presentation, which started the honors to the singer/activist. ” She’s always showing up, watching out and making us all a little bit better, a little bit more intense. To my lady, I just want to say, you influence me. You motivate everyone.”

Beyoncé dealt with the awards program, calling the honor ” stunning” in a video. She devoted the award “to all of my bros out there, all of my sis out there inspiring me, marching and defending modification.”

Beyoncé ended the speech urging citizen involvement. “I’m motivating you to continue to act, continue to work to alter a racist and unequal system. We have to continue to do this together.”

Beyoncé ruled even when she lost the award for finest female R&B/ pop artist. Winner Lizzo provided a shout-out, “Beyoncé, thank you for whatever you have done for Black culture.”

Lil Wayne kept in mind Kobe Bryant

The musician paid tribute to the Lakers basketball legend with a performance of his 2009 track “Kobe Bryant” on a phase that highlighted Bryant’s number, 24, in lights.

Lil Wayne added some lyrics to reflect the NBA legend’s tragic January death in a helicopter crash, which likewise killed Bryant’s 13- year-old child, Gianna.

” My heart heads out to Vanessa and the entire Black Mamba household,” Wayne sang, speaking of Bryant’s spouse, Vanessa. He ended with, “Rest in power/ Let’s wish for peace/ Black lives matter, realities.”

Wayne Brady carried out a tribute to Little Richard

Brady carried out an uplifting, wildly energetic tribute to the music legend, who passed away in Might at87 Brady sang and danced to a collection of the rock ‘n’ roll leader’s hits consisting of ” Lucille” (while crawling over a grand piano), “Good Golly Miss Molly” (toasting Richard’s picture with a martini) and “Tutti Frutti” (with back-up dancers use gold face masks).

In another tribute, Lizzo presented the video award to “Higher” from DJ Khaled, featuring the late Nipsey Hussle and Legend. “This is for Nipsey Hussle and for hip-hop,” said Khaled in his acceptance speech. The Grammy-nominated rapper/activist Hussle passed away in 2019.

Jennifer Hudson gave ‘Respect’ to Aretha Franklin

Hudson channeled the Queen of Soul, sitting behind a grand piano to sing ” To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” Franklin’s 1972 cover of the tune made well-known by Nina Simone.

Franklin carefully picked the Oscar-winning Hudson to star in the biopic of her life, ” Regard.” The efficiency was followed by a teaser trailer from the movie. Franklin passed away in 2018.

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