Skip to content

Top Navigation

EW.com EW.com
    • All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Animated
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
    • All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
    • All Music
    • Music Reviews
    • All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Ozark
    • The Masked Singer
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
    • All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
    • All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
    • All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
    • All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe

Explore EW.com

EW.com EW.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Your guide to 2022's biggest tours

      Your guide to 2022's biggest tours

      From Billie Eilish and Bad Bunny to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Weeknd, here are all the artists who can't wait to get on the road again. Read More
    • Your guide to the 2022 TV premiere dates

      Your guide to the 2022 TV premiere dates

      Read More
    • The 20 most anticipated books of 2022

      The 20 most anticipated books of 2022

      Read More
  • TV

    TV

    See All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Animated
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
  • Movies

    Movies

    See All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
  • Music

    Music

    See All Music
    • Music Reviews
  • What to Watch

    What to Watch

    See All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
  • BINGE

    BINGE

    See All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Ozark
    • The Masked Singer
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
  • The Awardist

    The Awardist

    See All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
  • Books

    Books

    See All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
  • Theater

    Theater

    See All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
  • Events

    Events

    See All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. The most memorable moments in BET Awards history

The most memorable moments in BET Awards history

By Aja Hoggatt June 19, 2018 at 12:00 PM EDT
Skip gallery slides
FB

1 of 10

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Destiny's Child perform "Cater 2 U" (2005)

2005 BET Awards - Show
Credit: M. Caulfield/WireImage

Everyone's hearts were beating a bit faster at the 2005 show when Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams brought Terrance Howard, Nelly, and Magic Johnson on stage — and serenaded the trio with unforgettable lap dances during one of the sexiest performances in BET Award history.

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Jesse Williams speaks up (2016)

2016 BET Awards - Show
Credit: Kevin Winter/BET/Getty Images

While accepting the Humanitarian Award in 2016, Jesse Williams delivered a passionate plea to the audience about the importance of black lives. While the speech went viral, with many inspired by his words, it also led to a petition calling for the actor to be fired from Grey's Anatomy, for what the petition called a "racist rant." In the end, Shonda Rhimes and ABC did not fire Willams, and he has continued to be an activist for black rights.

2 of 10

3 of 10

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Prince tributes (2010)

BET Awards '10 - Show
Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

During the 2010 BET Awards, performers such as Alicia Keys, Patti LaBelle, Janelle Monae, and Esperanza Spalding all performed tributes to Prince while the legendary performer sat in the audience cheering them on. LaBelle threw her shoes off as she belted out her solo, leading Prince to catch one and hold it up in the air, marking his approval of the performance.

3 of 10

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 10

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar perform "Freedom" (2016)

2016 BET Awards - 2016 BET Awards - Show
Credit: Paras Griffin/BET/Getty Images

When two of the best musicians in the world team up for an award show performance, it's sure to be iconic — and that's the only word to describe Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar's performance of the uplifting anthem "Freedom."

4 of 10

Advertisement

5 of 10

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Bad Boy tribute (2015)

2015 BET Awards - Show
Credit: Mark Davis/BET/Getty Images

Diddy reunited with his Bad Boy Family for an unforgettable performance that featured Lil’ Kim, Ma$e, French Montana, and more.

5 of 10

6 of 10

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Nicki Minaj forgets which award she won (2015)

2015 BET Awards - Show
Credit: Mark Davis/BET/Getty Images

In 2015, while accepting the Viewers Choice award, the "Chun-Li" rapper admitted that she didn't know which prize she was accepting. But, like the queen she is, Minaj quickly recovered, thanking her fans and delivering an empowering message to everyone watching, telling the audience, "Please do not give up on yourself, no matter what."

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 10

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Eminem's disses Trump (2017)

eminem
Credit: BET

The legendary rapper wasn't at the 2017 show, but he delivered an a cappella freestyle from his hometown of Detroit. Never afraid of a political statement, Eminem touched on everything from NFL players taking a knee to racism to Trump's frequent trips to Mar-a-Lago to the treatment of the military.

But perhaps his strongest statement came at the end, when he threw his middle finger up to any of his fans who are Trump supporters.

7 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 10

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

D'Angelo returns (2012)

2012 BET Awards - Show
Credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images

During his first TV performance in 12 years, the singer brought some old-school soul back to the show and had everyone from Beyoncé to Jamie Foxx on their feet dancing.

8 of 10

Advertisement

9 of 10

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Pharrell brings out Missy Elliott during "Come Get It Bae" (2014)

BET AWARDS '14 - Show
Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

While opening the 2014 show, Pharrell surprised everyone when he brought out Missy Elliott to perform with him following the verteran rapper's extended hiatus.

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 10

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

No shade? (2014)

"BET AWARDS" 14 - Show
Credit: Michael Tran/FilmMagic

While accepting the award for Best Female Hip Hop Artist during the 2014 show, Nicki Minaj incited controversy when she asserted that she writes all her own verses. While many took the remark as an insult directed toward fellow rapper Iggy Azalea, the "Feeling Myself" rapper was quick to shut down the rumor in a series of tweets that revealed her comments were an assertion that the assumption female artists can't write their own music is sexist, and they are just as capable as their fellow male artists of writing meaningful lyrics.

10 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Aja Hoggatt

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 10 Destiny's Child perform "Cater 2 U" (2005)
    2 of 10 Jesse Williams speaks up (2016)
    3 of 10 Prince tributes (2010)
    4 of 10 Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar perform "Freedom" (2016)
    5 of 10 Bad Boy tribute (2015)
    6 of 10 Nicki Minaj forgets which award she won (2015)
    7 of 10 Eminem's disses Trump (2017)
    8 of 10 D'Angelo returns (2012)
    9 of 10 Pharrell brings out Missy Elliott during "Come Get It Bae" (2014)
    10 of 10 No shade? (2014)

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message
    EW.com

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Meredith© Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright EW.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://ew.com

    View image

    The most memorable moments in BET Awards history
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.