BET Awards pay tribute to Prince, Muhammad Ali
Beyoncé won best video honors at Sunday night's BET Awards, as well as the viewers' choice award, for her hit "Formation," but her mother, Tina, accepted it on her behalf, explaining that Beyoncé had dashed off to London after her opening performance of "Freedom," with Kendrick Lamar in a pool of water.
Grey's Anatomy actor Jesse Williams injected a bit of politics with a speech on racial injustice, and several recipients urged people to vote against Donald Trump. "I'm really not political but it's serious out here, and for those who think that, you know, 'Oh he's not going to win' — think again," said Empire star Taraji P. Henson, when accepting her best actress award. "Don't get tricked like they got tricked in London!" said Samuel L. Jackson, accepting a lifetime achievement award.
But much of the three-hour award show was dedicated to Prince, who died in April. There were musical tributes by Shelia E., Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Bilal, The Roots, Janelle Monae, and Maxwell, among others. Jamie Foxx and Laila Ali remembered Muhammad Ali, who died in May. You can watch some highlights from the BET Awards in the AP video below. Peter Weber
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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