2018 BET Awards
Jamie Foxx hosted the 2018 BET Awards live from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles. He started in the audience holding a stuffed black panther. “I’m not here to host. I’m here to celebrate Black excellence.”
“We have to address the panther in the room.” “We don’t need a president right now because we have a king,” Jamie said, as he motioned to Michael B. Jordan in the audience.
“Black Panther is the third largest grossing movie of all time. A Black man did that.” “It’s the number one grossing Marvel movie of all time.” Jamie then said the line, “Freeze, I never freeze.”
Michael B Jordan was in the audience with Debra Lee during the back and forth. (No Chadwick Boseman.)
“I wish you would come up and say one line… come on up Michael B. Jordan, said Jamie. Say that line if you could, because it means so much.”
Michael came up and said, “Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors that jumped from ships because they knew death was better than bondage.”
He received massive applause, Jamie then introduced J. Cole who performed Cop Another Bag of Smoke Today.
Best Collaboration
Regina Hall and Amandla Stenberg were the first presenters. They gave a moment for the prompter to catch up and introduced the nominees for Best Collaboration. The 2018 BET Award went to DJ Khaled and Rihanna for Wild Thoughts. Of course, Khaled brought his son Asahd to the stage. “Thank You! God is the Greatest! He thanked God for his son and his lady and said, “Family is everything to me.”
Best New Artist
The next category was Best New Artist and the BET Award went to SZA. “I never won anything in front of other people.” “Follow your passion, ignore everyone… God Bless everyone!”
The Migos performed “Walk It Talk It” and Stirfry.”
2018 BET Awards, Migos, Walk It Talk It & Stirfy, uploaded by BET, subscribe.
Best Actress
Tyra Banks was the next presenter. Her category was Best Actress, but the show cut to Jamie Foxx in disguise riding a motorcycle to Tiffany Haddish in her on-set trailer (he wasn’t wearing pants) to announce that she won the 2018 Best Actress Award. “Ah, She Ready!,” yelled Tiffany. “Thank you to my grandmother and all the women who were strong in my family.” “Believe in yourself and then you can do anything. Tiffany and Jamie danced their way out of her acceptance speech.
Jamie was less than happy about the crowd’s enthusiasm and told them they needed to clap. He also started to imitate Donald Glover and his Childish Gambino song This is America.
He gave props to Donald Glover and called him up on stage. He said he doesn’t know what he’s going to do. Donald started to dance a little with Jamie, and they danced a little to his song. “I really wasn’t expecting to get up here,” Donald said, and that he was wearing pajamas as he left the stage. It was a little impromptu moment that didn’t go anywhere.
Miguel performed “Come Through and Chill” and “Sky Walker.”
2018 BET Awards, Miquel, Come Through and Chill & Sky Walker, uploaded by BET
Best Group
The recent trend of white people calling the cops on Black people was front and center, “911 is for emergencies, not your insecurities.” The category was for Best Group and the BET Award went to the Migos. “We’d like to thank God.”
Jamie Foxx came on stage in a bathrobe, “Donald you ain’t the only one rich man. This is how I sleep, bro.” He exposed his thigh and posed while saying, “Wake your ass up.”
Jamie then threw some shade at a supposed feud between Monique and Oprah. He mimicked Monique and her request to boycott Netflix. “We love Oprah and we are scared of Monique.”
Jamie introduced Nicki Minaj who performed Chun-Li and Rich Sex. YG, 2 Chainz, and Big Sean joined her for Big Bank.
2018 BET Awards, Nicki Minaj, Chun-Li & Rich Sex, uploaded by BET, subscribe.
The next category was Best International Act and the BET Award went to Davido from Nigeria.
And the next performance was H.E.R. doing Focus.
Oh no, Jamie’s character Lawanda took us to Wakanda. Lawanda killed the stuffed black panther in this skit.
Best Movie
Best Movie was the next category and the BET Award went to Black Panther, of course!
Michael B. Jordan was there to accepted with director Ryan Coogler. Michael let Ryan give the acceptance speech. Chadwick couldn’t be there, he said. He thanked his family and the audience for making it something special and said to travel to Africa. It changed his life.
Bobby Brown was in attendance to promote his new TV movie called The Bobby Brown Story coming to BET. Bobby introduced the clip by saying, “What you’re about to see is real, it’s raw, it’s me.”
Lifetime Achievement Award
Tyler Perry introduced Anita Baker’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He mentioned her struggles, but that she survived. A video walked through her career and reminded us of her greatness with a voice that can bring tears to your eyes.
Jamie played the piano and started singing a song he made up called, A Little Anita and then started singing Same Old Loving and Giving You the Best That I’ve Got as Anita Baker reacted from the audience. Jamie can sing.
When Anita Baker took the stage to accept the honor, the award was too heavy and Tyler held it for her. She thanked Debra Lee and the entire team at BET. She thanked Steve Hill who she said had tried to arrange this award for four years.
“All I would ask is that the music be allowed to play, and singers are allowed to sing, and rappers are allowed to rap, and poets are allowed to rhyme. Just bring more of what we see here tonight.”
She also asked veterans of the industry to be there and support the young ones, and said, “When you see the young ones tap them on the shoulder. They need you.” “Thank you for this welcome home BET.”
John Legend talked about school shootings, police brutality, and now separating families as he honored real-life heroes. He honored those who stood up, took bullets and even scaled a wall to save a life. They honored six incredible people who truly are real-life heroes.
Kevin Hart, Quest Love and the Philadelphia crew introduced Meek Mill’s powerful return to the stage with Miguel. The performance was profound.
2018 BET Awards, Stay Woke! Meek Mill & Miguel, uploaded by BET, subscribe.
LL Cool J came to honor Debra Lee and award her with the Ultimate Icon Award for her leadership, direction and three decades at BET.
“I love that BET has been a place where we could see authentic images … and be unapologetically Black.”
“The power of Black culture is unmatched.”
“I hope you look at my career and see that you can be whatever you want to be because you rock.”
She ended her speech using words from President Obama and said, “It’s Debra Lee, out!”
The next performer was Ella Mai, and she sang Boo’d Up.
Ninki Minaji had champagne with Jamie in the audience as Jamie introduced Janelle Monáe who performed This is my palace and I Like That.
The In Memoriam segment of 2018 BET Awards was included and Jamie spoke on the death of XXXTentacion. Jamie got very serious and said, “We have gotten to use to this and we gotta figure something out.”
Jamie introduced Snoop Dogg’s performance celebrating 25 years since his first album hit the top of the charts. Snoop killed it and ran through a few of his hits before getting into one of his new gospel songs with his choir called Sunrise.
When they came back Jamie was on stage singing too. They went over time, but Jamie closed the show and said the after party started next.
Congratulations to all the winners at the 2018 BET Awards!
Tanya Hart
