The BET Awards Had Plenty Political Moments — And Reactions Were Mixed

This article includes material from HuffPost’s weekly culture and entertainment newsletter, The Culture Catchall. Click here to subscribe.

The 2024 BET Awards delivered a night full of surprises, powerful speeches and unforgettable performances. The ceremony’s political moments sparked a range of reactions, with some resonating deeply while others fell flat. Remarkably, the event offered more candid insights and memorable moments than the recent debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

As I sat in the audience at the award ceremony, I noticed the crowd’s mixed reactions throughout the night. Let me break it down for you.

One of the first things to take everyone by surprise was Killer Mike winning Album of the Year. After acknowledging his arrest at this year’s Grammys — where he won three awards, including Best Rap Album — he addressed the audience on the importance of voting — not just in the presidential election, but also in local elections like races for city council and prosecutor. He ended his speech by encouraging those dissatisfied with current officials to head to the polls and even consider running for office themselves. He received rousing applause and cheers from the audience throughout his speech.

Later, Taraji P. Henson, hosting the awards for the third time, got real and raw with the audience about Project 2025, a conservative plan that could take away civil rights, restrict abortion and dismantle government structures if Trump or another Republican wins. Henson also highlighted a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to punish people for sleeping in public places, underscoring the urgency for awareness and action.

“It is not a secret,” Henson said in an impassioned plea to audiences. “They