BET Awards 2022: Bravery Took Center Stage as Stars Called Out the Supreme Court's Reversal of Roe v Wade
Although it was a night of celebration, the presenters and performers at the BET Awards 2022, hosted by award-winning actress Taraji P. Henson, did not shy away from addressing the issues that matter to viewers the most. Days before culture’s biggest night, the Supreme Court reversed the historic landmark decision Roe v. Wade, which gave women the constitutional right to receive an abortion should they choose to get one. The decision has already begun to show dangerous side effects across the nation as states are left to decide if a woman can be able to terminate her pregnancy legally. Several brave women used their moment during this year’s event to address the groundbreaking moment.
Taraji P. Henson
BET Awards host and award-winning actress Taraji P. Henson addressed the Supreme Court ruling during her opening monologue following Lizzo’s performance of “About Damn Time.” The Hidden Figures star applauded the Grammy Award-winning singer’s $1 million pledge to Planned Parenthood in partnership with Live Nation, donating $500,000 each.
“Thank you, Lizzo, for pledging 1 million dollars to Planned Parenthood,” Henson said. “And you damn right — it’s about damn time. It’s about damn time we step into our power. It’s about damn time we talk about the fact that guns have more rights than a woman. It’s a sad day in America.”
“A weapon that can take lives has more power than a woman, who can give life — if she chooses to,” she added.
Janelle Monàe
While presenting the “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist” category, which ultimately went to Jazmine Sullivan, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Janelle Monàe called out The Supreme Court over their decision to reverse the law that would make getting an abortion a constitutional right. The “I Like That” singer put up a middle finger and said, “F-ck you, Supreme Court.”
“I’d like to give a special, special shout-out to Black women, to Black queer artists, to Black nonbinary artists,” she began. “These artists making art on our own terms, owning our truths and expressing ourselves freely and unapologetically in a world that tries to control and police our bodies, my body, and our decisions, my decision.”
She continued, “F-ck you, Supreme Court. I know we are celebrating us right now, as we should — we absolutely deserve to celebrate, especially now. We must celebrate our art by protecting our right and our truths.”
Latto
While emotionally accepting the award for “Best New Artist,” Latto referred to the historic overturn of Roe v Wade and her latest single, “It’s Givin,” “It’s giving boss b-tch!” The rapper said to the crowd before thanking God, her mom, and her team as she fought back tears. “It’s giving pro-choice. It’s never giving a man policing my body,” she added before shouting out her mystery beau.
Jazmine Sullivan
While accepting the first award presentation of the night for “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist,” the “Feelings” singer urged men to support women following the Supreme Court decision.
“As always, I do this for the women. For my sisters especially. It’s a hard time right now for us. I want to speak directly to the men. We need you all. We need y’all to stand up. Stand up for us. Stand up with us,” she said.
“If you have ever benefited from a woman making one of the toughest decisions of her life ― to terminate a pregnancy ― you need to be standing with us. This is not just a woman’s issue. This is everybody’s issue. We need your support more than ever, okay, fellas. Y’all got us? We’ve got y’all. You all have got us? Thank you so much.”
Novi Brown from the cast of Tyler Perry’s Sistas
The stars of BET’s Sistas also addressed the Supreme Court decision. “Not only are we sisters on camera but also in real life,” actress Novi Brown said. “In light of the recent reversal of Roe v. Wade and political events affecting our nation, it’s time for sistas across the world to join hands and lift our voices.”