The Latest: Tyler Perry recognized as an icon at BET Awards
24/6/2019 11:56
The Latest on the 2019 BET Awards, which are being presented Sunday at the Microsoft Theater (all times local):
8 p.m.
Tyler Perry spoke about the worthiness of black women and his journey to become a filmmaker after accepting the Ultimate Icon Award at the BET Awards.
Perry says he wants to be an inspiration more than an icon as he preached entrepreneurship on Sunday. He is best known for his African-American comedies and his character "Madea" through his film series.
In 2006, Perry opened a 200,000-square-foot studio in Atlanta. He expanded and opened a different state-of-the-art film and television studio in 2015 on the former Fort McPherson Army Base, which is now a 330-acre campus that is one of the largest production studios in the country.
Taraji P. Henson presented Perry with the award. Cicely Tyson said Perry is a "blessing to us all" in a video statement.
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7:15 p.m.
Mary J. Blige praised God, thanked her mother and spoke about a healed relationship with her father after accepting the Lifetime Achievement award during the BET Awards.
The Grammy winner talked about trying to make history while positively serving others before she performed several of her hits including "My Life," ''No More Drama" and "I'm Going Down" while wearing an all-white trench coat trimmed with white fur and a diamond studded waist belt on Sunday.
Blige peeled off her long coat, sporting mini shorts and high boots as she picked up the tempo. The singer danced across the stage before she brought out Lil Kim to perform "I Can Love You" then "You're All I Need" with Method Man.
Rihanna presented Blige with the award calling her the "queen of hip-hop and R&B." She also applauded Blige for being the first person to compete for both acting and songwriting award in the same year.
Blige was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actress and original song for her work on the Netflix film "Mudbound."
In a video, Diddy, Queen Latifah, Nas and Andre Harrell praised the singer for his musical skills.
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6:30 p.m.
The men known as the Central Park Five each briefly spoke before introducing a performance by Grammy-winning singer H.E.R. at Sunday's BET Awards.
Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise received a standing ovation as each walked on stage. The men's story was shown in the Netflix series "When They See Us," which dramatized the events surrounding their trial.
The five men were exonerated in 2002 after being charged with the 1989 rape of a white woman in New York's Central Park.
After each spoke, H.E.R. told a socially conscious poem before the Grammy winner performed "Lord Is Coming," which also featured rapper YBN Cordae.
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6:15 p.m.
Lil Nas X brought country music flavor to the BET Awards on Sunday.
In a video, the 20-year-old rapper and singer Billy Ray Cyrus rode on horses down the blue carpet then showed up on stage in cowboy attire.
The tandem performed Lil Nas X's cowboy-themed country trap song "Old Town Road" as Cyrus played a guitar and sang. The rapper wore a bright yellow fringe jacket and chap pants, and black cowboy hat as dancer wore denim shorts, leather vests and cowboy hats behind him.
"Old Town Road" has topped the Hot 100 list for weeks, spawned social media memes and dances and prompted numerous think pieces about black cowboy culture and the state of country music.
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5:50 p.m.
Cardi B is the winner for the best album at the Sunday's BET Awards.
The Grammy-winning rapper pranced up the stairs to accept her award wearing a lime green dress. She bragged about the success of her multi-hit album "Invasion of Privacy" before she thanked everyone featured on the project.
Cardi B is the leading nominee at the BET Awards with seven, including video of the year, thanks to her hits "Money" and "Please Me," co-starring Bruno Mars.
Cardi B, who won two BET Awards last year, is also competing for viewer's choice award and best female hip-hop artist, where her competition includes Nicki Minaj, Remy Ma, Megan Thee Stallion, Kash Doll and Lizzo.
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5 p.m.
The BET Awards kicked off on Sunday with a two-song performance from hip-hop couple Cardi B and her husband Offset.
Offset of the hip-hop trio Migos stepped onstage first before being accompanied by his wife on his lap performing the song "Clout." Cardi B took to stage on her lonesome to perform "Press" on Sunday night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
The show's host Regina Hall followed their performance with a video skit imitating Beyonce's behind-the-scenes moments from her documentary. She then went onstage with a marching band while Sugar Bear from the D.C.-based go-go band E.U. performed the 1998 hit song "Da Butt."
The "Girls Trip" actress twerked onstage before Taraji P. Henson joined her and began doing the same.
Cardi B is the leading nominee with seven.
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4:30 p.m.
The late Nipsey Hussle will be honored at the 2019 BET Awards, which will be hosted by Regina Hall and feature performances by Cardi B, Migos and H.E.R.
Cardi B is the leading nominee with seven at Sunday night's show, kicking off at 8 p.m. Eastern from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Hussle, who was a respected and beloved activist in South Los Angeles, will receive the Humanitarian Award. The rapper was shot to death on March 31 outside his clothing store in what police said was a personal dispute.
Hussle will compete with Drake, J. Cole, Travis Scott, Meek Mill and 21 Savage for best male hip-hop artist.
Grammy winner Mary J. Blige will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and media mogul Tyler Perry will earn the Ultimate Icon Award.
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