Black Excellence Televised! #BETAwards2018
By: Paige K. Mitchell For the past 16 years, Black excellence has been televised live from Los Angeles, California! All star celebrities, musicians, actors, actresses, athletes, comedians, media moguls, and social media influencers gather to celebrate success! It is an overall celebration of African-American achievement! The BET Experience leading up to the BET Awards live show is loaded with fun filled celebrity studded activities throughout the L.A. Live campus. The campus includes venues such as; Staples Center, Microsoft Theatre, Grammy Museum, and more. The BET Experience ran from June 21-24. Holding a wide spectrum of events; BET x Live, BET Her Awards, BET Genius Talks, concerts, Celebrity Dodgeball, Celebrity Basketball, BET x Fashion Show, just to name a few. Practically every celebrity you can think of was in L.A. to catch all the BET action! The talent lineup for the Staples Center concerts included Chris Brown, LL Cool J, Ludacris, Ne-Yo, and SZA. The BET Her Awards was held at the Conga Room nightclub at L.A. Live - where several women of color were honored. La La Anthony, Yvonne Orji, Sheila E. and etc. “Black women been doing amazing things,” Actress Yvonne Orji Said. Many of these events were open to the general public for purchase. V.I.P. Packages were available ranging from $1,095 - $4,500 (according to BET website). However individual tickets were sold, and said to be much more affordable. Fans packed the Staples Center to See Chris Brown, Teyana Taylor, SZA, and ELLA Mai. Fans also showed up and showed out for the celebrity basketball game. The game was hosted by Gia Peppers and coached by Tyga and Jemele Hill. “Thank you BET for having me! My absolute favorite thing about all of this was wearing a Wizards jersey while hosting this,” Celebrity Basketball Game Host, Gia Peppers Said. L.A. streets were packed with some of your favorite celebrities all weekend long, anxiously awaiting for the big day of the BET Awards. “I was in management mode most of the BET Experience, but I still managed to have a great time. Thank you BET,” Business Owner and Reality Television Star, Yandy Smith said. On Sunday June 24, 2018- Celebrity guests and media officials started showing up at 2:00pm. Celebrities patiently waited in their cars as one-by-one pulled up to walk the carpet escorted by security guards and met by paparazzi and microphones. Jamie Foxx hosted the awards. J Cole was the first act to the hit the stage. Migos won best group. While pregnant Cardi B accepted her award from her living room couch. Anita Baker won the Lifetime Achievement award. Anita was surprised by a beautiful tribute from Ledisi, Marsha Ambrosius, and Yolanda Adams. The most viewed performance of the evening was when Meek Mill took the stage with his powerful performance/depiction of what is taking place in America amongst Blacks and politics. Meek Mill’s outfit drew many eyes as he performed wearing a hoodie that had the late rap greats; Xxxtentcion and Jimmy Wopo on it. “We are fighting for freedom” Meek Mills Said. The awards concluded with a production by Snoop Dogg as he took us through a musical journey of his life, and ended with a gospel song letting the audience know that everything is going to be alright.
