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A great deal of hype has surrounded this year's BET Awards.
Since the passing of arguably the greatest entertainer of all-time, Michael Jackson, this weekend's buzz has been all about how Black Entertainment Television will re-vamp its annual awards show to pay tribute to the King of Pop.
From the show's beginning, it was clear this night's festivities would honor the 'Thriller' singer in more ways than one. But big names like Usher, Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown, who were all rumored to participate in the show were noticeably absent.
New Edition, includingbad boy Bobby Brown, kicked off with a medley of Jackson 5 hits, including 'ABC, 'The Love You Save' and 'I Want You Back.' They even nailed the choreography of the Jacksons in their performance.
2009 BET Awards host Jamie Foxx, wearing MJ's signature red leather jacket and white glove -- replete with dancers -- performed a short rendition of Jackson's 'Beat It.' The Academy Award-winning actor also moonwalked across the stage.
2009 BET Awards
Jay-Z, left, and Beyonce Knowles are seen at the 9th Annual BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
AP
REFILE - ADDING CAPTION INFORMATION....Singer Ne-Yo and actor Jamie Foxx hug after singing "I'll Be There", a song by Michael Jackson, during the BET Awards '09 in Los Angeles June 28, 2009. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT)
Reuters
REFILE - ADDING CAPTION INFORMATION....Singer Ne-Yo and actor Jamie Foxx hug after singing "I'll Be There", a song by Michael Jackson, during the BET Awards '09 in Los Angeles June 28, 2009. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT)
Reuters
REFILE - ADDING CAPTION INFORMATION....Singer Ne-Yo (L) and actor Jamie Foxx sing "Ill Be There", a song by Michael Jackson, during the BET Awards '09 in Los Angeles June 28, 2009. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT)
Reuters
REFILE - ADDING CAPTION INFORMATION.....Actor Jamie Foxx sings "I'll Be There", a song by Michael Jackson, during the BET Awards '09 in Los Angeles June 28, 2009. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Reuters
REFILE - ADDING CAPTION INFORMATION....Ne-Yo performs "The Lady in My Life", a song by Michael Jackson, at the BET Awards '09 in Los Angeles June 28, 2009. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT)
Reuters
REFILE - ADDING CAPTION INFORMATION....Singer Ne-Yo and actor Jamie Foxx sing "I'll Be There", a song by Michael Jackson, during the BET Awards '09 in Los Angeles June 28, 2009. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT)
Reuters
REFILE - ADDING CAPTION INFORMATION....Ne-Yo performs "The Lady in My Life", a song by Michael Jackson, at the BET Awards '09 in Los Angeles June 28, 2009. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT)
Reuters
REFILE - ADDING CAPTION INFORMATION....Singer Ciara performs "Heal the World", a song by Michael Jackson, .at the BET Awards '09 in Los Angeles June 28, 2009 REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT)
Reuters
REFILE - ADDING CAPTION INFORMATION....Singer Ciara performs "Heal the World", a song by Michael Jackson, .at the BET Awards '09 in Los Angeles June 28, 2009. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT)
Reuters
Keri Hilson sang her hit songs 'Turnin' Me On' and 'Knock You Down.'
Without any frills, NeYo sang Jackson's touching 1982 ballad 'Lady in My Life.'
'Akeelah and the Bee' star KeKe Palmer performed an accapella version of 'Who's Lovin' You' before introducing Foxx ,who then performed his number-1 hit song 'Blame It.' Snoop Dogg joined him on-stage to dance around, as did T-Pain and rocker Travis Barker, who played drums, as the song turned into a rock 'n' roll version.
Rapper Soulja Boy performed his 'Turn My Swag On' single. Beyonce followed shortly thereafter and sang her version of 'Ave Maria.' Mary Mary were joined by Queen Latifah for their song 'God In Me.'
Foxx took the stage for a second time as a performing act, and this time behind the piano, for 'She Got Her Own' with Ne-Yo and Fabolous.
One of the night's highlights was Ne-Yo & Friends' blast from the past: Keith Sweat performed 'I Wanna,' Guy performed 'I Like' and Ne-Yo joined Bell Biv DeVoe to sing 'Poison.'
Ciara, adorned in a Jackson-esque blazer, performed his 'Heal the World' while Keyshia Cole teamed with Monica for a duet of 'Trust' and Jay-Z took the stage, shortly after his wife Beyonce won the award for 'Best R&B Female,' to perform his new single 'Death of Auto tune.'
BET President Debra Lee honored the humanitarian recipients Alicia Keys and Wyclef Jean.
Academy-Award nominee Taraji P. Henson, who won the Best Actress award, joined her 'Baby Boy' co-star Tyrese who pretended to be 'Jodi' his character from the John Singleton flick.
Another highlight was the O'Jay's tribute. Not only did the legendary soul singers take the stage and sing 'Let Me Make Love To You,' 'For the Love of Money' and 'Used To Be My Girl,' but Tevin Campbell honored the group singing 'Forever Mine,' as did 'Johnny Gill, Trey Songz and Tyrese who sang 'Backstabbers,' 'Darlin' Darlin' Baby' and 'Stairway to Heaven.'
To close out the show, Janet Jackson took the stage to thank everyone for the support and love that has been shown to her family since the passing of her big brother. She said the following:
"My entire family wanted to be here tonight but it was just too painful. So, they elected me to speak with all of you so I am going to keep it very short. I'd just like to say to you Michael is an icon, to us Michael is family and he will forever live in all of our hearts. On behalf of my famiy and myself thank u for all of your love thank you for all of your support. We miss him so much thank u so much"
Ne-Yo and Foxx sang 'I'll Be There' to close out the show.
BET Awards 2009 Winner's List
Best Female R&B Artist: Beyonce
Best Male R&B Artist: Ne-Yo
Best Collaboration : Jamie Foxx and T-Pain - 'Blame It'
Viewer's Choice: T.I. and Rihanna 'Live Your Life'
Best Group: Day 26
Best Male Hip-Hop: Lil' Wayne
Best New Artist: Keri Hilson
Video of the Year: Beyonce 'Single Ladies'
Best Actress: Taraji P. Henson
Male Athlete of the Year: LeBron James
Comments: (112)
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By: "DimePiece" on 6/29/2009 1:02AM
I have been sayin on here for the longest time, BET is so disrespectful and ignorant. The whole show was so inappropriate for the occasion. That goes for any occasion, BET is such a disrespectful network, PERIOD! That's all they do is show drama, inappropriate videos that exploit black woman in a negative way, and it is NEGATIVE in my eyes! The BET AWARDS looked like a rushed up azz job! Always tryin to be the first to do stuff instead of doing it the RIGHT WAY! Jamie with "Blame it" with a big bottle on stage was GHETTO! Yeah there were some parts Jamie was funny but his jokes were so INAPPROPRIATE for the occasion. This wasn't the time!
There were too many BLEEPS Levert with his drunk self cussin, they didn't have time to get in the bleep. Lil Wayne, I can't stand that man. Had the NERVE to have his daughter and other young girls on stage while singin that DISRESPECTFUL song, "I wish that I can F ever girl in the world"! Well, they said "Love" but still they were cussin and all you could hear was "BLEEP", "BLEEP", "BLEEP"! What kind of message is he sending and what disrespect that was in front of his daughter and the other young girls. Drake that was on there with him was disrespectful too!
ALL THROUGH THE DAMN SHOW girls dancing too inappropriate on stage, wearing revealing clothin, pants fallin off, cussin, and it was just a HOT GHETTO MESS! I have no respect for BET and they should be a SHAME of themselves tryin to put together this mess in remembrance of Michael! I was so embarrassed with just about everybody on there! I will not watch it next year FO SURE! The acts like New Edition, Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall, sounded so RUSTY and was a GHETTO MESS!!!!!!!!! Tarji with that back out of a dress, Tyrese, and Rhimes was another GHETTO MESS!
The Red Carpet was a GHETTO MESS TOO! Beyonce need to quit with those vegas girl outfits. She thought it was all about HER! Wasn't feelin it either. Jay Z didn't look comfortable on stage. He didn't seem like he was in his COMFORT ZONE? The one artist that did that song "Birthday Sex" the words didn't even get BLEEPED OUT! Such disrespect. I caught during commercial the new shows that are coming on, all I can say is "GHETTO MESS! NOTHIN BUT DRAMA! That Tiny T.I.'s wife should have kept her behind off the damn stage excepting that award for T.I. She was so GHETTO! I am always DISAPPOINTED but I knew what was to be expected! BET gets no LUV from me! There was one artist that I give much respect too and that was the one and only "MAXWELL"! He SUNG THAT SONG FROM THE HEART! He still looks SEXY! That was only best performance that I enjoyed and Ne-Yo singing "Lady in my life" and the duet with Jamie singin "I'll be there" was touching. I wish Jazmine Sulivan could have song a song on there?
R.I.P. Michael Jackson
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By: "DimePiece" on 6/29/2009 1:13AM
I was so emotional seeing Janet up there on stage like that. Janet looked so beuatiful. She kept it together and I felt for her and her Family! I pray that God blesses that Family and help give them the strength to move on!
R.I.P. Micahel Jackson
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By: tara allen on 6/29/2009 2:04AM
YES!YES!YES! I agree with you. I HATED the show. it was so ghetto. I am so disappointed. What upset me most was LIL Wayne's performance about F*CKING every girl in the world, then shouting out to Michael Jackson, like that was befitting and respectful! I wanted to scream! I kept thinking, can BET for once put on a polished and sophisticated show?
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By: meek on 6/29/2009 2:24AM
When in the world has Michael Jackson EVER used that type of language or degrading comments about women? Huh? Never!!! The show started off o.k. then it took a left turn somewhere and I was like what in the world is going on. You know the world is watching us. THey wanted to see how we would honor one of our own, especially with all the so called talent we have in our pocket. We made a mockery out of the show. Beyonce, what in the world was that? This isn't one of our concerts, hun, this was about Michael Jackson. Wayne, Drake, can you please stop setting black folks back 400 years? That performance was so inappropriate for the occassion. I am all for freedom of speech. If this was a Lil wayne concert or Drake concert, o.k. But this was a tribute awards show to a Musical legend that didn't believe in all that language and degrading remarks about women. We always do this black people. We don't have to accept the ghettoness. And we can look educated, poised, and fabulous. We don't have to be ghetto. Man I am so upset that they kept the stereotype going!
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By: Fireworks on 6/29/2009 4:29AM
I agree with dimePiece and Meek. The show was 100% ghettofied. Lil Wayne was a disgrace. I just don't understand how a shout-out counts as a tribute.
But I thought Beyonce was ok. At least her performance was classy. I thought the song/songs she sang were typically done when someone dies.. no?
There was the guy with the big chain on his neck.
And Jamie...very inappropriate jokes. Not only that.. the last song he sang was horrible. They should have let someone... anyone else sing that song. Jamie could barely carry the note. bad bad bad.
alot of negative stereotypes were reinforced tonight.
Thank God for Maxwell, even Beyonce
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By: "DimePiece" on 6/29/2009 10:26AM
Fireworks,
That was stupid "T-Pain". That was SOOOOOOOOOO Disrespectful sayin "A**" on his shirt!!!!! This was not the time and most of these sorry performers made it look bad for black people and will be talked about for a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG time! I am BEYOND DISAPPOINTED! People on there, had the nerve to say that Michael's spirit was there? Michael's spirit probably seen that mess and LEFT OUT THE BUILDING! This didn't represent the KING OF POP! This represented black people in the worst way! I pray that the upcoming tribute to Michael at the Apollo is done tastefully and will show much respect for the King of Pop? Oh, did anybody stay up to see the "After Show"? Man, what more disappointments. They had Tiny and Toya on there talkin about their upcoming Reality Show on Tuesday and child, the show looked a GHETTO MESS! DRAMA!!!!!! I'm sure all of yall seen the previews for the upcoming Reality Shows on BET? WHAT A HOT MESS! What kind of message will we all get out of? I am not tryin to see what kind of house they all have, what cars they drive, what they don't like what's going on in their own lives, ect..... I will not be tuning to BET, PERIOD! TV ONE is my # 1 Black Network and wished there were more respected BLACK OWNED NETWORKS out there?
R.I.P. Michael Jackson
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By: PATS on 6/29/2009 5:45PM
IF ONLY CHRISTAL COULD HAVE BEEN THERE
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By: Gina Jackson on 6/29/2009 4:46AM
Okay, so it wasn't just me that thought the overall show was absolutely horrible. When the show began, I was disappointed in New Edition, the vocals were terrible. Then Jamie Foxx, for such an intelligent man, he was the most ignorant host they could have. His profanity and banter to Sean Combs was lewd and inappropriate. For that matter, his hosting throughout the night was too much for family viewing. I will say that parts of the show, about the last two hours, was more of the best. This is the part with the 90s groups - Guy, Keith Sweat, and the tribute to the O'Jays.
Michael Jackson was such a positive entertainer. What this show demonstrated was how much our values, self-respect, and how the music business in general has hit rock bottom. I was watching CNN prior to the show and they were plugging the awards and talking about how there was going to be a huge tribute to Michael Jackson. And to think, the rest of the world was watching us at our worst. What's even more sad is, most of those people that I and others on this blog are mentioning, don't think anything was wrong.
Lastly, I agree with the future shows coming up in the fall on BET (e.g., Mo'nique, Miss buffoonery herself, and Wendy Williams). What ever happened to the quality shows like Bev Smith's talk show or BET News. We have nowhere to get information dedicated solely to our community. You would think Black Entertainment Television would be the place.
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By: Michelle on 6/29/2009 5:19AM
Now what i hear is about of old heads on this commenting i think it was a great show one of the best and Jamie Foxx was hilarous and he did a great job honorin micheal especally with the moonwalking and the outfits he wore and to the person that said something about his bottle on the stage the song is called blame it on the ALCOHOL what u expect to see tea and biscuits and if u ever heard Micheal Jackson speak he said he loved all types of music and they didn't do anything but do what the BET awards are mostly about and i know ya'll didn't expect lil wanye to get up there and do a Micheal Jackson song if u did u are dumb anyways I see nobody didn't say when jamie foxx got up there with ne-yo and sung i'll be there which was beautiful and had me tearing up!! and nobody said anything about ne-yo's performance or ciara's who sung beautifully!!! all u people want to rant about is the negative and call everything negaitve like Jamie said at the beginning they are there to celebrate his life not mourn the way u people are making it sound like they should have just be up there telling peices of his like and calling it a show and what is actually is a hot mess was BEYONCE singing that dumb azz song she was better off doing single ladies and if u wanna talk about disrespectful it should have been her cuz she could have got up there and sung Micheal Jackson but she wanna sing some Ava Maria
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By: Lex Sosa on 6/29/2009 11:00PM
Michelle,
With all due respect, your blatant ignorance frightens me. Calling Beyonce's rendition of "Ave Maria" a 'dumb azz' song - as you so eloquently put it - is borderline blasphemy. I can only blame it on you probably not knowing any better. Ave Maria translates to "Hail Mary," who just happens to be the mother of Jesus. It's a religious prayer in the form of a song. Unfortunately, 106 & Park has probably reduced your feeble brain to the consistency of oatmeal. Your ranting and raving in support of the simplistic coonery and buffoonery exhibited at BET's sorry excuse of a tribute is not at all surprising. The post you submitted is a clear reflection of such a limited mindset -filled with misspellings and 50-word run-on sentences. I can only pray that you wake up and invest some time and energy into a quality education that our forefathers fought so desperately and sacrificed life and limb for us to enjoy. Your post only perpetuates the countless stereotypes that so many already have placed upon our people. I pray to God that you wake up and stop allowing yourself to be bamboozled by such foolishness that jumps out of your television screen.
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