Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs receives lifetime honor at BET Awards

Speaking of his own inspirational dream for the black community, Sean “Diddy” Combs conveyed the spirit of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. while on Sunday evening he won the highest award at the BET Awards.

After receiving a lifetime achievement award, Combs told the music mogul that God had put a special message in his heart to give him his “new dream.” He was awarded the prize by Babyface and Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) and called Combs his “favorite actor” when he was growing up.

“I have this dream of free blacks,” Combs told Babyface and Ye at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. “I had a dream that we would control our own destination.” I had a dream that we would be responsible and stop killing each other. I had a dream that we were rich and rich and lived in the same block. I have a dream that we will be together. ”

The BET Awards celebrate the contributions of people of color in the field of entertainment and mark the winners in 19 categories, including film and sports.

Doja Cat, Drake and Ari Lennox came up with the most nominations, but without the trophies. Silk Sonic – formed by Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak – won two awards, including Album of the Year, for his project “An Evening with Silk Sonic.”

Oscar-nominated presenter Taraji P. Henson said Combs’ influence was “huge for culture.”

During Combs’ speech, he paid tribute to the late Andre Harrell, who started his career, as well as to his mother, who worked in many jobs during his childhood, and to the late Kim Porter, his longtime girlfriend and mother of three.

“I miss Kim so much,” Combs said. Earlier, in a star-studded tribute to Combs, he had given Porter an emotional video montage. The nostalgic tribute includes performances by Mary J. Blige, Lil Kim, Busta Rhymes, Jodeci, Shyne and Faith Evans. Combs founded Bad Boy Records and is a three-time Grammy winner in collaboration with many top artists including Notorious B.I.G., Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Evans and 112. He created a fashion clothing line called and Sean John, which was launched. Revolt TV focuses on music and has its own vodka. He also did the reality show “Making the Band” for MTV.

In 2004, rap producer Walter Lee Younger starred in the Broadway revival “A Raisin in the Sun,” which aired four years ago as a television adaptation. He has also appeared in films including “Get Him to the Greek” and “Monster’s Ball.”

Recipients of previous awards include Prince, Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Samuel L. Jackson, Lionel Richie, Anita Baker and New Edition.

Babyface and Ye call Combs a “legend.”

“This man went through and endured a lot of things and broke a lot of doors so we could stand – I know, I can be here now,” said Ye, who had a black mask on his face. “He broke a lot of doors on classicism, taste, culture, swag.”

Combs’ honors came the same night that other big stars used the BET awards to harshly criticize the Supreme Court’s recent decision to remove women’s constitutional protection from abortion.

Henson appeared on stage as the host of the show with an uplifting message of “black perfection” before taking the trial of the landslide reversal of Roe v. Wade was convicted last week. The actor took the stage after Lizzo opened the show with a flute solo in a shiny golden dress and performed her single “About Damn Time”.

“It’s about a destructive time when we talk about guns having more rights than women. It’s a sad day in America,” Henson said. She thanked Lizzo, who was with the ticket vendor. and Concert Promotion Live Nation recently donated $ 1 million in Planned Parenthood tour revenue.

Grammy-nominated singer Janelle Monae raised her finger to the Supreme Court before announcing a nomination for Best Female R&B / Pop Artist.

“These artists create art according to our own conditions, they own our truths and they express themselves freely and unforgettably in a world that tries to control and control our bodies, I the body and our decisions,” said the singer, to whom I also pay tribute. in the LGBTQ + community. “F — your Supreme Court. I know we should behave the way we should today. It’s definitely worth the effort to celebrate – especially now that we have to celebrate our art by defending our rights and truths.”

Monae then introduced Grammy winner Jazmine Sullivan as the category winner – who called on men to support women.

“These were hard times for us,” Sullivan said. “I want to talk to the boys now: we all need you. We all need you to stand, stand behind us, stand with us. If you have benefited from a woman who is making one of the most difficult decisions of her life, namely terminating her pregnancy, you need to get up. It’s not just a woman’s business. This is everyone’s business. We need your support more than ever. ”

Latto gave an emotional speech after winning the best new artist. “It gives pro-choice,” said the rapper, who later created his hit “Big Energy” with Mariah Carey. “He’ll never let anyone cleanse my body.”

Singer Tems donates her best international action award to many women who “dare to dream”.

“Where I come from, things don’t happen,” said Lagos-born singer Nigeria, who won the best collaboration with Justin Bieber and Wizkid for the song “Essence.” “It’s a dream. When you look at me, I want you to introduce yourself as me, because you have to be here too.”

Jack Harlow played “Poison” with Lil Wayne before Brandy went on stage with him with his hit “First Class”. As Harlow and Brandy performed, the camera turned to his brother Ray J, who was seen dancing with the audience.

Chance the Rapper and Joey Bada $$ played “The Highs & the Lows.” Muni Long in her pink dress opened her set with a snippet of “Time Machine” for her jam “Hrs & Hrs.”