(MENAFN- Arab Times) Though she was absent, Beyonce won three BET Awards, including video of the year for "7/11," while Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj also won multiple awards at the all-star show Sunday night. But the show was less about the awards - video of the year didn't even make the live broadcast - as performances stole the night.
As Janet Jackson entered the stage at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Brown screamed loudly, Minaj whipped out her phone to record the moment and Laverne Cox was teary-eyed. The pop star was honored with the Ultimate Icon: Music Dance Visual Award as she made one of her first public performances in sometime as she readies a new album and tour this fall.
"It's been a very long moment to this journey " my heart is so full," Jackson said to the audience, which included her mother and father. "To my beautiful mother, to my beautiful father, and to my entire family, your love is unbreakable."
An impressive Ciara, Jason Derulo and Tinashe paid tribute to the 49-year-old veteran by mimicking her signature dance moves.
"Twenty five years ago we created 'Rhythm Nation,' hoping the world would be a better place, but today there's even more to be done," Jackson said.
Dropped
Jackson wasn't the only show stopper Sunday: Diddy dropped it like it's hot at the awards show - figuratively and literally.
The entertainer fell during an exciting performance that celebrated Bad Boy Records' 20th year anniversary, one of the night's highlights. Lil Kim, Mase, Faith Evans, 112 and The Lox joined Diddy as they performed a medley of past hits. A video montage of rap king Notorious B.I.G. appeared in the background as his verse from "Mo Money Mo Problems" played.
Brown performed multiple times, and won best male R&B/pop artist and the fandemonium award.
"A lot has changed in my life, a lot of mistakes, a lot of lessons learned. The best thing I'm most thankful for is my daughter," he said onstage. "I'm so thankful and happy to have the loyal fans " and everybody here that knows me, to know me is to love me."
The show Sunday brought a mix of funny and serious moments. Rapping on top of a police car with a large American flag waving behind him, hip-hop prince Kendrick Lamar kicked off the BET Awards with a dose of seriousness, but also brought a fiery energy thanks to his charisma and beat of his song, "Alright."
He later won best male hip-hop artist.
"This is for Compton, this is for Watts," the Los Angeles-born rapper said.
Janelle Monae and Jidenna also brought a serious vibe to the stage when they performed "Classic Man": The singers and their background dancers wore large "I'm a Classic Man" signs around their necks, a reference to the historic "I Am a Man" civil rights era protest signs.
And as Anthony Hamilton and Gary Clark Jr. performed while photos of celebrities who died appeared on screen, a montage of the nine people who were gunned down at a church in Charleston earlier this month closed the performance.
"Black-ish" actors Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross won over the crowd with back-to-back jokes, including one about Rachel Dolezal, the former president of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP.
"Is white really the new black," Anderson sang as two photos of Dolezal - one old, the other recent - appeared on screen.
Anderson also dressed as British singer Sam Smith, who won best new artist but didn't attend the awards show.
"Sam Smith isn't here tonight because he's white and he didn't think he would win at the BET Awards," Anderson said as the audience burst into laughter.
"This award is going to stay with me for you not showing up to BET," Anderson sang, referencing Smith's ubiquitous hit, "Stay With Me."
Rihanna, who debuted a 1-minute clip of her new music video for "B- Better Have My Money," was among the A-listers who sat in the audience, and she sang along during Omarion and Brown's performance of the pop hit, "Post to Be." Alicia Keys surprised the crowd when she joined The Weeknd to sing his hit, "Earned It."
Smokey Robinson received the Lifetime Achievement Award, performed a medley of his hits and earned a standing ovation from the audience when he spoke about Hollywood and humility. Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke and rising singer Tori Kelly paid tribute to the icon.
And Patti LaBelle was a fan favorite too, hitting high notes alongside Tamar Braxton and K. Michelle.
Minaj, who won the fan-voted viewer's choice award, brought her mom onstage when she collected her sixth consecutive best female hip-hop artist award.
"Momma, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you've done for me. I love you so much," said Minaj, who performed her with rapper-boyfriend Meek Mill later in the show.
Beyonce's wins included best female R&B/pop artist and video director of the year.
Here are some of the best and worst moments from the 2015 BET Awards.
Best: Bad Boy Records formerly, Bad Boy Entertainment, celebrated its 20th year. Sean "Diddy" Combs, formerly known as "Puffy," performed with stars, old and new, including Mase, Lil Kim, Faith Evans, 112, The Lox's Jadakiss and Styles P. They broke out '90s hits including, "Peaches and Cream," "All About the Benjamins," and "Love Like This" with a postmortem video performance from Notorious B.I.G.
There were still questions in the audience of why the label's first breakout star, Craig Mack, didn't show up. It didn't stop the crowd form chanting "Bad Boy" after the act was over.
Worst: Diddy showed everyone that he still has moves 20 years later, but he took a misstep into the crowd pit causing him to fall during the reunion performance.He must have been too nervous. At least that was the excuse after the Bad Boy founder also stumbled while presenting Smokey Robinson with the Lifetime Achievement Award. "We just celebrated 20 years, and it's like a big deal for me," explained Combs.
Best: Smokey Robinson accepted his award with a prayer and some advice.During his speech, he brought some wisdom to the younger generation of musicians listening in the audience. "This fantastic world of show business is like a bittersweet wine, it's intoxicating and there are so many people in the world that are siting in line to get a taste," he started. "For those of you who are fortunate enough to get a taste and to get drunk on yourselves and to become self-absorbed is ridiculous" You should be thankful."
Worst: Rapper Nicki Minaj wins so much that she forgot the name of the award that she was accepting mid-speech."What was this award for?" Minaj asked. When told it was the Viewers' Choice Award, she recovered nicely and delivered encouragement to young people to follow their dreams. (She also monopolizes the Best Hip-Hop Artist category.)
Best: "Empire's" Jussie Smollett added a speech where he thanked the Supreme Court for the recent decision on marriage equality."No one is free until we are all free," Smollett said. As he shared the stage with "Empire" co-stars Bryshere "Yazz" Gray and Serayah during a performance of "You're So Beautiful," Smollett also remixed the lyrics: "This the kind of song where a man loves a man, you're so beautiful and I don't care who knows." With the crowd on their feet in applause, Smollett ordered them to "stand for love."
Worst: For whatever reason, BET continues to have a miniature conveyor belt for presenters to use before announcing awards.The airport staple seems like no place for the stage considering the number of female presenters who had a hard time finding their footing.
Best: "Black-ish" co-hosts, Ross and Anderson, took a go at being another TV couple.The two brought the drama to the stage as they assumed the roles of Cookie and Lucious Lyon before Terrence Howard stepped in and introduced his "Empire" TV family who performed a selection of songs from the series.
Worst: Rihanna's sneak peak of "B-h Better Have My Money" video was ruined for awards show guests.Throughout the night, celebrities were kidnapped by Rihanna, including Floyd "Money" Mayweather, Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker - because they didn't have her money. Unfortunately, the big build-up was spoiled for the audience with the sound of Fetty Wap's "Trap Queen" playing too early. (It was scheduled as the final performance of the evening.)
Best: Nicki Minaj introduced the world to her mother for the very first time.While accepting her first award of the night for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, she gave special thanks to her mom who stood beside her onstage.
Worst: Busta Rhymes should no longer be invited for skits at upcoming awards shows.In what was supposed to be the introduction to Meek Mill's "The Get Back," Rhymes was unprepared to take a simple Instagram photo for Ross and Anderson with singer Tori Kelly. Anderson outed the "Touch It" rapper when he told the audience, "This bit was rehearsed, you should've been ready."
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