The BET awards show is hosted every year to celebrate African American contributions in the entertainment industry. However, this year, one of the biggest African American hip hop stars, Lil Nas X, was excluded from this group. Lil Nas’s disappointment was not hidden from the public as he constantly trolled the BET awards show on social media even going so far as to release a song that contained the repetitive phrase “F*** BET!”
Lil Nas credited his dismissal as a candidate for the awards show to his overt queerness. He showed his disdain for the decision to leave him out through many social media posts and a song that outspokenly criticize the BET show. Lil Nas X believes that the judging community for the BET awards show was heavily bias in their decision to not nominate him. In a since-deleted tweet Lil Nas states, “I just feel like black gay ppl have to fight to be seen in this world and even when we make it to the top mfs try to pretend we are invisible,” clearly suggesting that the BET awards show was discriminatory in their judging process.
Lil Nas has a point. This year he released an extremely popular debut album with fellow hip hop artist Jack Harlow. Together they created Industry Baby which won the Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Song of the year. Lil Nas’s complaints are not unfounded. Jack Harlow received an award at the BET show while he was denied.
The BET awards show released in a public response that they love Lil Nas, and that their nomination committee is made up of more than 500 entertainment professionals. They also openly stated that none of the nomination committee is in any way a member of BET to guarantee the most unbiased results.
Lil Nas’s controversy with the BET awards show touches on a bigger and more fundamental problem in the entertainment industry. Award ceremonies are plagued with problems that stem from a lack of diversity. Some of the biggest events like the Grammys and the Golden Globes have struggled with maintaining a voting committee that is completely representative of all groups. Although Lil Nas’s controversy with the BET awards show does seem to be motivated by his ego and salty feelings, he does have a point in the lack of diversity award ceremonies have.
Link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656283799987x900552368636861400/Lil%20Nas%20X%20calls%20out%20the%20BET%20Awards%20in%20his%20new%20single.%20He%20has%20a%20point%20_%20NPR.pdf
Lil Nas credited his dismissal as a candidate for the awards show to his overt queerness. He showed his disdain for the decision to leave him out through many social media posts and a song that outspokenly criticize the BET show. Lil Nas X believes that the judging community for the BET awards show was heavily bias in their decision to not nominate him. In a since-deleted tweet Lil Nas states, “I just feel like black gay ppl have to fight to be seen in this world and even when we make it to the top mfs try to pretend we are invisible,” clearly suggesting that the BET awards show was discriminatory in their judging process.
Lil Nas has a point. This year he released an extremely popular debut album with fellow hip hop artist Jack Harlow. Together they created Industry Baby which won the Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Song of the year. Lil Nas’s complaints are not unfounded. Jack Harlow received an award at the BET show while he was denied.
The BET awards show released in a public response that they love Lil Nas, and that their nomination committee is made up of more than 500 entertainment professionals. They also openly stated that none of the nomination committee is in any way a member of BET to guarantee the most unbiased results.
Lil Nas’s controversy with the BET awards show touches on a bigger and more fundamental problem in the entertainment industry. Award ceremonies are plagued with problems that stem from a lack of diversity. Some of the biggest events like the Grammys and the Golden Globes have struggled with maintaining a voting committee that is completely representative of all groups. Although Lil Nas’s controversy with the BET awards show does seem to be motivated by his ego and salty feelings, he does have a point in the lack of diversity award ceremonies have.
Link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656283799987x900552368636861400/Lil%20Nas%20X%20calls%20out%20the%20BET%20Awards%20in%20his%20new%20single.%20He%20has%20a%20point%20_%20NPR.pdf