The BET Awards, which celebrate Black excellence in music, culture and sports, were presented Sunday.
Lizzo kicked off the show, hosted by Taraji P. Henson, with a shining performance of her latest hit, “About Damn Time.”
Several of the presenters, performers and award recipients called for action after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday
There were moments of joy, however, too. Brandy did a surprise performance with Jack Harlow, and Mariah Carey hit some impressive high notes in a surprise performance with Latto.
Sean “Diddy” Combs received a lifetime achievement award. He was celebrated by a host of fellow artists and former collaborators like Mary J. Blige and Kanye West.
Will Smith, who stoked controversy at the Academy Awards by slapping Chris Rock on stage shortly before winning the best actor Oscar, won the BET Award for best actor on Sunday.
A full list of nominees follows below, with the winners announced during the broadcast indicated in bold.
| Category | Winner / Nominees |
| Best Female R&B/Pop Artist | Ari Lennox Chlöe Doja Cat H.E.R. Jazmine Sullivan *WINNER Mary J. Blige Summer Walker |
| Best male R&B/Pop Artist | Blxst Chris Brown Giveon Lucky Daye The Weeknd *WINNER Wizkid Yung Bleu |
| Best Group | Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) *WINNER Chlöe X Halle City Girls Lil Baby & Lil Durk Migos Young Dolph & Key Glock |
| Best Collaboration | Wizkid feat. Justin Bieber & Tems – “Essence” *WINNER DJ Khaled fest. Lil Baby & Lil Durk – “Every Chance I Get” Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties Doja Cat feat. SZA – “Kiss Me More” Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy” Bia feat. Nicki Minaj – “Whole Lotta Money (Remix)” |
| Best Female Hip Hop Artist | Cardi B Doja Cat Latto Megan Thee Stallion *WINNER Nicki Minaj Saweetie |
| Best Male Hip Hop Artist | Drake Future J. Cole Jack Harlow Kanye West Kendrick Lamar *WINNER Lil Baby |
| Video Director of the Year | Anderson .Paak a.k.a. Director .Paak *WINNER Benny Boom Beyoncé & Dikayl Rimmasch Director X Hype Williams Missy Elliott |
| Video of the Year | Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties” Chlöe – “Have Mercy” Doja Cat feat. SZA – “Kiss Me More” Ari Lennox – “Pressure” Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) – “Smokin Out The Window” *WINNER Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy” |
| Best New Artist | Baby Keem Benny the Butcher Latto *WINNER Muni Long Tems Yung Bleu |
| Album of the Year | Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) – “An Evening with Silk Sonic” *WINNER H.E.R. – “Back of My Mind” Tyler, the Creator – “Call Me If You Get Lost” Drake – “Certified Lover Boy” Kanye West – “Donda” Jazmine Sullivan – “Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe” Doja Cat – “Planet Her” |
| Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award | Marvin Sapp – “All In Your Hands” Kanye West – “Come to Life” Kelly Price – “Grace” Fred Hammond – “Hallelujah” H.E.R. & Tauren Wells – “Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)” Election Worship & Maverick City Music – “Jireh” Lil Baby X Kirk Franklin – “We Win” *WINNER |
| BET Her | Alicia Keys – “Best of Me (Originals)” Mary J. Blige – “Good Morning Gorgeous” *WINNER Chlöe – “Have Mercy” Ari Lennox – “Pressure” Jazmine Sullivan – “Roster” Summer Walker & Ari Lennox – “Unloyal” Doja Cat – “Woman” |
| Best International Act | Dave (UK) Dinos (France) Fally Ipupa (DRC) Fireboy DML (Nigeria) Little Simz (UK) Ludmilla (Brazil) Major League DJZ (South Africa) Tayc (France) Tems (Nigeria) *WINNER |
| Best Movie | “Candyman” “King Richard” *WINNER “Respect” “Space Jam: A New Legacy” “Summer of Soul” “The Harder They Fall” |
| Best Actor | Adrian Holmes – “Bel-Air” Anthony Anderson – “Black-ish” Damson Idris – “Snowfall” Denzel Washington – “The Tragedy of Macbeth” Forest Whitaker – “Respect” / “Godfather of Harlem” Jabari Banks – “Bel-Air” Sterling K. Brown – “This Is Us” Will Smith – “King Richard” *WINNER |
| Best Actress | Aunjanue Ellis – “King Richard” Coco Jones – “Bel-Air” Issa Rae – “Insecure” Jennifer Hudson – “Respect” Mary J. Blige – “Power Book II: Ghost” Queen Latifah – “The Equalizer” Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary” Regina King – “The Harder They Fal” Zendaya – “Euphoria” / “Spider-Man: No Way Home” *WINNER |
| Youngstars Award | Akira Akbar Demi Singleton Miles Brown Saniyya Sidney Storm Reid Marsai Martin *WINNER |
| Sportswoman of the Year Award | Brittney Griner Candace Parker Naomi Osaka *WINNER Serena Williams Sha’Carri Richardson Simone Biles |
| Sportsman of the Year Award | Aaron Donald Bubba Wallace Giannis Antetokounmpo Ja Morant LeBron James Stephen Curry *WINNER |
