Megan Thee Stallion was crowned with the most awards at the 21st BET Awards hosted by Taraji P. Henson at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles Sunday night.
‘The Hot Girl Summer’ rapper swept home four awards; best female hip-hop artist, the viewer’s choice award for her “Savage” remix featuring Beyoncé, and best collaboration and video of the year for “WAP,” her duet with Cardi B.
Leave it to Cardi B to deliver an energetic performance. The audience was entertained by the performance with her husband and Migos member Offset, which, according to host Henson, literally pumped life into the awards show.
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The ‘WAP’ rapper used that moment to announce her second pregnancy in a sparkly outfit and stunning high heels. She later took to her social media after the performance to confirm and officially announce that her daughter, Kulture Kiari, will soon be a big sister.
There were many other intriguing performances from Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, City Girls, Jazmine Sullivan, and Ari Lennox. However, what got people extra excited was Lil Nas X’s Egyptian-themed, Michael Jackson-referencing performance of his No. 1 hit “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” which ended with a kiss to his male dancer.
Burna Boy won the coveted Best International Act award while Chadwick Boseman received a posthumous award for Best Male Actor. Late rapper DMX was honored with a tribute performance from Method Man, Busta Rhymes, Swiss Beatz, and a few others.
Queen Latifah received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Her father, Lancelot Owens, Sr., was by her side holding a photo of her late mother, Rita Owens, on the stage. “I’m so extremely moved, I don’t even know what to say,” Latifah said, choking up. “Let me just say that I want to thank God because God designed this whole thing to be this way.
“There is no way that I could have had the parents that I was born to, my father, my mother, who instilled so much in me. My family, I love you. My siblings, my best friends who ride or die with me. Whether my face is on the dirt or flying in the sky, they know me and they are there for me,” she said in her acceptance speech.
She went on to thank BET for creating a platform where Black creatives can showcase their talents unapologetically.
A live audience attended the awards for the first time since the pandemic began. This year’s theme was “Year of the Black Woman”.
Here is a full list of winners for the 2021 BET Awards.
Best Album
The Weeknd, After Hours
DaBaby, Blame It on Baby
Megan Thee Stallion, Good News
WINNER: Jazmine Sullivan, Heaux Tales
Nas, King’s Disease
Chloe x Halle, Ungodly Hour
Best Collaboration
WINNER: Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar”
DJ Khaled ft. Drake – “Popstar”
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, and Lil Wayne – “What’s Poppin (Remix)”
Megan Thee Stallion ft. DaBaby – “Cry Baby”
Pop Smoke ft. Lil Baby and DaBaby – “For the Night”
Best Female R&B / Pop Artist
Beyoncé
WINNER: H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Jhené Aiko
Summer Walker
SZA
Best Male R&B / Pop Artist
6lack
Anderson.Paak
WINNER: Chris Brown
Giveon
Tank
The Weeknd
Best New Artist
Coi Leray
Flo Milli
WINNER: Giveon
Jack Harlow
Latto
Pooh Shiesty
Best Group
21 Savage and Metro Boomin
Chloe X Halle
Chris Brown and Young Thug
City Girls
Migos
WINNER: Silk Sonic
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Doja Cat
WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion
Latto
Saweetie
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
DaBaby
Drake
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
WINNER: Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Bebe Winans – “In Jesus Name”
Cece Winans – “Never Lost
H.E.R. – “Hold Us Together”
WINNER: Kirk Franklin – “Strong God”
Marvin Sapp – “Thank You for It All”
Tamela Mann – “Touch From You”
BET Her Award
Alicia Keys ft. Khalid – “So Done”
Brandy ft. Chance the Rapper – “Baby Mama”
Bri Steves – “Anti Queen”
Chloe x Halle – “Baby Girl”
Ciara ft. Ester Dean – “Rooted”
WINNER: SZA – “Good Days”
Best International Act
Aya Nakamura (France)
WINNER: Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Emicida (Brazil)
Headie One (U.K.)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Young T & Bugsey (U.K.)
Youssoupha (France)
Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act
WINNER: Bree Runway (U.K.)
Arlo Parks (U.K.)
Bramsito (France)
Elaine (South Africa)
MC Dricka (Brazil)
Ronisia (France)
Tems (Nigeria)
Viewer’s Choice Award
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
Chris Brown and Young Thug – “Go Crazy”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar”
DJ Khaled ft. Drake – “Popstar”
Drake ft. Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture”
WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé – “Savage (Remix)”
Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”
Video of the Year
Cardi B – “Up”
WINNER: Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
Chloe X Halle – “Do It”
Chris Brown and Young Thug – “Go Crazy”
Drake ft. Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
WINNER: Bruno Mars and Florent Déchard
Cole Bennett
Colin Tilley
Dave Meyers
Hype Williams
Best Movie
Coming 2 America
WINNER: Judas and the Black Messiah
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
One Night in Miami
Soul
The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Best Actress
WINNER: Andra Day
Angela Bassett
Issa Rae
Jurnee Smollett
Viola Davis
Zendaya
Best Actor
Aldis Hodge
WINNER: Chadwick Boseman
Damson Idris
Daniel Kaluuya
Eddie Murphy
Lakeith Stanfield
Youngstars Award
Alex R. Hibbert
Ethan Hutchison
Lonnie Chavis
WINNER: Marsai Martin
Michael Epps
Storm Reid
Sportswoman of the Year Award
A’ja Wilson
Candace Parker
Claressa Shields
WINNER: Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Sportsman of the Year Award
Kyrie Irving
WINNER: Lebron James
Patrick Mahomes
Russell Westbrook
Russell Wilson
Stephen Curry
