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So today after recieving news that a whooping record breaking 11 million viewers checked in to watch the BET Awards this past Sunday night in anticipation of seeing a Tribute to Michael Jackson just 2 or 3 days after his death, BET has finally responded to all the criticism. It responded by giving an exclusive statement to All Hip Hop where they denounce the performance of Lil Wayne and Drake. An exclusive statement to AHH? Wow.. there was no press release issued by Debra Lee or Stephen Hill.. There was no notification on their website BET.com as of 7:45 am PST… All I can do is shake my head.. Of course they do this on the day of our three day holiday when everyone is out and about..
In the meanwhile Drake has issued an apology of sorts. He says he regrets what happened and that the timing was poor. Thank you Drake for taking some sort of responsibility. You can read the BET apology below.. Shout out to the fam over at All Hip Hop.. Please do us a favor.. can you ask BET to exclusively apologize to all of us via their network? Also can y’all please ask them who made the call to put Drake and Lil Wayne on to do the song. Drake notes in his apology that they were being pressured to do the song. pressured by who? The Label? BET? Friends and family?
-Davey D-
Exclusive: BET Denounces Lil Wayne Performance, Drake Apologizes
BET CEO Debra Lee- Not sure if it was Ms Lee, but BET denounces Lil Wayne and Drake's performance at the BET Awards
BET has expressed remorse over a performance by Lil Wayne, Drake and Young Money Records that involved underage girls during songs “Best I Ever Had” and “Every Girl.”
The songs, which have overt sexual references, were performed during the Sunday BET Awards ’09 show as a bevy of young girls danced on stage. The group of girls consisted of Lil Wayne’s daughters and her friends.
In an exclusive statement, BET has responded to the criticism and the public outcry over the segment.
“BET Networks deeply regrets the performance by Young Money at the BET AWARDS ’09 (featuring Lil Wayne, Drake, Gudda Gudda and Mack Maine),” a BET representative told AllHipHop.com exclusively. “Elements of the performance were unplanned and should not have happened.”
In the aftermath of the show, many have expressed outrage over the outing by Young Money, which was set amid a show dedicated to the late Michael Jackson.
Activist and filmmaker Byron Hurt lambasted the network earlier in the week in an open letter to Debra Lee, the President and Chief Executive Officer of BET Holdings, Inc.
“In a culture where one out of four girls and women are either raped or sexually assaulted – and where manipulative men routinely traffic vulnerable women into the sex industry – it is not okay that BET allowed this to happen,” Hurt said. “BET owes its entire audience – particularly girls and women around the world – an apology for its failure to intervene.”
A representative said generally the company has found such opinions useful.
“We value and appreciate the feedback from our viewers and have edited Young Money’s performance for all BET Awards ’09 encore presentations.”
Drake has apologized and taken responsibility for the performance, admitting it was in poor taste.
Drake says he regrets what happened at the BET Awards. He says it was poor timing
“That…was a terrible idea that I’ll never do to myself again. But I was being pressed from different areas to perform, and I think what really happened at the BET Awards is with the passing of Mike, the climate really changed, as far as the award show goes,” he told Complex. “I don’t think it called for us to perform “Every Girl” and “Always Strapped,” and I think it was an award show filled with tributes and music and these genuine heartfelt speeches. And to sort of climax out of a very tongue-n-cheek point, and then people misconstruing Wayne’s daughters and her friends coming out on stage — it was just timed very poorly and it definitely wasn’t planned like that, but with that being said, it is what is. I believe in Wayne and myself and it’s nothing we can’t bounce back from. To anyone who was offended, my personal apologies, it wasn’t intended to offend anybody.”
An edited version of the show will re-air on Monday July 6. The BET Awards saw a 61-percent increase in viewers this year fueled by the sudden death of Michael Jackson. Ten percent of all turned on television sets watched the show Sunday, a remarkably high number
I think BET should’ve did a seperate show for MJ. Since the awards were already they still should’ve had some of the dedicated performances but let Mike’s legacy stand on it’s own.
I agree with brotha K. definitely should have been a separate tribute. The combination of award and tribute felt rushed, unplanned and unprofessional.
Both make very good points! If you are cooking a steak dinner and you find out that your guest has to have a steak and chicken meal, you cut out part of the steak and add some chicken….you don’t put the chicken and steak in a blender and serve stew. They would’ve done a better job if they had dedicated say the last half hour of the show to an MJ tribute….and left some of the performances on the cutting room floor and saved the Humanitarian Awards for the Image Awards show. BET unfortunately was GET that night, Ghetto Entertainment Television and didn’t do ANYONE a service with that hodge podge of a program.
That’s unfortunate, but I find it hard to believe they (BET) didn’t have an idea of what they were getting into. I think the network genuinely thought that this was the type of stuff that viewers loved…not thinking about how different the demographic was going to be (in terms of who would be watching)…due to Michael Jackson’s death…very bad move……Hopefully if more people begin to speak up, changes can be made…
LOL!
…but I do co-sign Brotha K’s statement on a separate show, which is what I thought they would do in the first place.
Drake will say it was poor timing now, after the fact, but drake would win more over by admitting he was caught up in the game the industry plays on the masses, and that his foundation when it comes to hiphop sadly comes from the trick 97 error/era, he would be more credible and stand up if he admitted to that, just like the powers at BET, but it’s not about coming clean to the people who champion you, it’s about milking them to fake the real funk. And so we continue like they want to, with talking points, while they continue and some of us also fake the funk.
BET should apologize for the whole entire show it was crap from Kari, to Beyonce, to Jay, to Jamie Fox… what was the tribute??? Also LIL Wayne.
BET Had LIL Wayne on the show instead of Chris Brown???
Horrible show and where was the Micahel Jackson Ttribute?? You had Jay Z promo his song and the Wife Bey show boating 1/2 naked singing a song she prob didn’t understand either.
The Worst BET show EVER. BET should be Denouncing the entire show… IT was not about Michael Jackson, what thre songs and that made it a Tribute?? They used MJ’s death for ratings and put together a cray show. I was not impressed by Jaime Fox as a host also. No class at all. BET I hope took notes at how a Tribute is done or Memorial. On july 7th that was the best tribute I ever saw. I enjoyed that better than the BET 2009 show. There were no Egos and the performers were Great!!! It was about Michael Jackson, not about who can put on the best show… Also BET needs to apologize for Beyonce’s 1/2 Clothe performance. For that show to supposedly be a Tribute no one was prepared to change their performance for the best. NEW Edition/BBD and the Ojays was good. Matter of fact is shows you when it comes to performances who can come through Old School performers. Aslo why did JAy Z old you know what perform that anti-auto tone song?? What did that have to do with Michael Jackson? BET should have had Monique or Steve Harvey as the host– Whitney houston as a performer, j-hud, alicia keys, mary jay blige, Chris Brown, Justin Timerlake, Usher, Monica, Brandy, New Edition, Dave Chapel as the comedian… MTV/VH1 is going to outbeat BET with a better MJ tribute… I denouce the entire BET show on june 28 2009. They insulted MJ, he is a perfectionist and that was a crapy show.
What’s the difference between lil Wayne & Drake performances compared to BET givin TI an Award isn’t TI in jail?? What message is that sending to kids?? Do a show for your community service puposes and you still will be honored. BET Sucks!!!! Also Chris Brown should have been on the awards show too.. I’m not understanding the hypocracy?? Wrong is Wrong a sin is a sin.. BET prob won’t be around in the next few years I won’t be surprised. Drake should not have apologize, Jay Z is a known past Drug dealer and hus lyrics back him up, he is not shy about boasting his past hustle experience… BET is such hypocrits
Well,, we just have to respect other people’s tastes and preferences.. For some, things are detestable..For the others, things are enjoyable…Respect..Respect…That is the key..