The 2022 BET Awards was held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday night, with some of the biggest names in the music industry in attendance. However, the show received mixed reactions from viewers after controversial YouTuber Kevin Samuels was honored in a Memoriam video.
Host Taraji P. Henson introduced the tribute featuring influential men and women who died the past year. From the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in overturning Roe v. Wade to rap legend Biz Markie, Sidney Poitier, Virgil Abloh, and a surprising add with Samuels in the lineup.
The network’s decision to include Samuels in the montage received mixed reactions from viewers on Twitter. While some didn’t see the problem with adding Samuels to the video, others explained that someone who dedicated most of his internet career to attacking Black women should not be in the same mention as Poitier or women losing their constitutional right to an abortion.
One user said, “BET awards the only place on earth you’ll see Kevin Samuels in the same video package as Sidney Poitier.”
BET awards the only place on earth you’ll see Kevin Samuels in the same video package as Sidney Poitier
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) June 27, 2022
“BET putting Roe v. Wade and Kevin Samuels in an “in memoriam” segment was the idea of someone who is extremely online and needs to touch grass,” another user said.
BET putting Roe v. Wade and Kevin Samuels in an “in memoriam” segment was the idea of someone who is extremely online and needs to touch grass.
— Andrew Hammond (@ahammFreePress) June 27, 2022
More users said it was disrespectful for Samuels to be in the same discussion as Roe v. Wade, following with gunshots that honored those who lost their lives to gun violence.
“BET putting Roe V Wade and Kevin Samuels in this memorial and ending it with gunshots is so… #BETAwards,” one user said.
BET putting Roe V Wade and Kevin Samuels in this memorial, and ending it with gunshots is so… #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/6AEk6XeoBW
— Ｍａｔｔｈｅｗ . (@MathewNoKnowles) June 27, 2022
“BET tryna cater to black men tonight because they b***h a**es been on Twitter all year saying no one cares about them after they done dragged black women for filth in the name of Kevin Samuels. #BETAwards,” another user said.
BET tryna cater to black men tonight because they bitch asses been on Twitter all year saying no one cares about them after they done dragged black women for filth in the name of Kevin Samuels. #BETAwards
— Big Lex🤎 (@TheeArtOfLex) June 27, 2022
Here are more reactions from Samuels being added to the montage.
They memorialized Kevin Samuels, but not the Buffalo victims. I hate BET so much lmaooo.
— prēyé (@SosoTheWanderer) June 27, 2022
Lil nas x wasn’t nominated at the BET awards but Kevin Samuels was honored. Lol
— B(lack) E(vil) T(elevision) (@nottramar) June 27, 2022
Mics not on, teleprompter issues, Ms. Pat annoying ass, white people in attendance and Kevin Samuels apart of the fallen tribute…
Sound the horns and pack this shit up BET. #BETAwards
— Ultra Babe (@ItGirlDanie) June 27, 2022
