Janelle Monae at the 2022 BET Awards. Image Source: WWD

The BET Awards, which honor Black excellence in music, culture, and sports, were held on Sunday, June 26th, 2022, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The show was hosted by Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress Taraji P. Henson for the second time in the row and Lizzo kicked off the show by singing and performing on her latest hit track, ‘About Damn Time'.

The Black Entertainment Television network launched the BET Awards in 2001 as a way to honor African Americans who had achieved success in the previous year's music, acting, sports, and other entertainment-related sectors. Simulcasts of the ceremony were shown on nine US stations, three UK stations, and additional BET channels in France and Africa.

During the ceremony, various presenters, performers, and award recipients spoke about the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe V. Wade. Taraji P. Henson quoted Lizzo's song and said, it's about damn time for people to speak up and address the issue of firearms having more rights than women. It's a terrible day in America when a weapon that can destroy lives has more power than a woman who, if she so chooses, can give life.

Here are the winners of the 2022 BET Awards:

Best Actor- Will Smith-King Richard

Best Actress- Zendaya- Euphoria/Spider-Man: No Way Home

Best Movie - King Richard

YoungStars Award- Marsai Martin- black-ish

Album of the Year- Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson . Paak) – An Evening with Silk Sonic

Video of the Year- Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar- "Family Ties"

Video Director of the Year- Anderson.Paak a.k.a. Director .Paak

Best Female Hip Hop Artist- Megan Thee Stallion

Best Male Hip Hop Artist- Kendrick Lamar

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist- Jazmine Sullivan

Best Male R&B/ Pop Artist- The Weeknd

Best Group- Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson . Paak)

Best Collaboration- Wizkid feat. Justin Bieber & Tems- Essence

Best New Artist- Latto

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/ Inspirational Award- Lil Baby X Kirk Franklin- We Win

BET Her- Mary J. Blige- Good Morning Gorgeous

Best International Act- Tems

Sportswoman of the Year- Naomi Osaka

Sportsman of the Year- Stephen Curry

Lifetime Achievement Award- Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Presenter Janelle Monae gave a middle finger and said ‘fuck you Supreme Court when they walked on stage to present the award for Best Female R&B/ Pop Artist. They began by applauding Black women, Black queer, and Black nonbinary artists, claiming that every artist out there is doing work on their terms, owning their truth, and expressing themselves freely and unreservedly in a culture that wants to control and police their bodies and decisions. Janelle added that she knows that they are celebrating them right now, as everyone should, and stated that they deserve to be celebrated, especially now. They should celebrate their art by protecting their rights and truths.

Jazmine Sullivan, who was presented with the award, also echoed the sentiments expressed by Janelle Monae and said that, as always, she does this for the women, her sisters especially. Jazmine said while accepting the award that it's a hard time right now for everyone and she wants to speak directly to the men as women need them all. Women need men to stand up for them and stand with them, especially now.

Jazmine, who spoke to the men, said that if they have ever benefited from a woman making one of the toughest decisions of her life, which is to terminate a pregnancy, they should be standing with them and said that this is not just a women’s issue but everybody’s issue and they need the support from the men now more than ever.

Congratulations to the winners!