Doechii won Best Female Hip Hop Artist at the 2025 BET Awards, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The award marks a major milestone following the release of her debut album, Alligator Bites Never Heal.

The 19-track album includes songs such as “STANKA POOH,” “BULLFROG,” “CATFISH,” “WAIT,” and “FIREFLIES,” and has been praised for its experimental production and genre-blending approach.

While accepting her award, Doechii addressed the tense environment surrounding the awards show, which took place as the National Guard was deployed in response to ongoing protests in Los Angeles.

“As much as I am honored by this award,” she said, “I do want to address what’s happening right now outside of the building. There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order.”

She continued, “Trump is using military forces to stop a protest. And I want you all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?”

Protesters had gathered near the area earlier in the day in response to immigration raids conducted over the weekend, temporarily shutting down the 101 Freeway.

“People are being swept up and torn from their families,” Doechii said. “And I feel it’s my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people—for Black people, for Latino people, for trans people, for the people in Gaza. We all deserve to live in hope and not in fear. And I hope we stand together, my brothers and my sisters, against hate, and we protest against it.”

Doechii’s speech was met with applause from the audience. Her remarks were one of several moments during the awards ceremony in which artists addressed political and social issues.

The 2025 BET Awards were hosted by Kevin Hart and marked the 25th anniversary of the show.