Send Feedback

Dear Debra Lee,

Sunday night’s BET Awards show was a disgrace. It’s sad and unfortunate that your network, owned by Viacom, continues to crank out mediocrity and perpetuate negative stereotypes of black men, women, and children. Although you likely received high ratings for the awards show, there is no honor in reinforcing the status quo’s opinion of black people. Your tribute to Michael Jackson and the overall show had its great moments, however, BET failed to deliver a solid, quality show. Rather than “raising the bar” and presenting African-Americans as a creative, proud, dignified people, BET lowered the bar for the entire world to see. The BET Awards drew a huge audience to watch a tribute to Michael Jackson, but left millions of viewers feeling disappointed, embarrassed, and reduced to classic stereotypes.

Check out the video of Young Money performing at the BET Awards:

During the most blatantly sexist performances of the night, the executives at BET failed to act and display intelligence, courage, and leadership. Show executives watched, approved, and applauded as artists Lil’ Wayne, Drake, and Cash Money brought young, under-aged girls onto the stage to dance and serve as window dressing while they performed “Every Girl,” a song that reduces girls and women to sex objects. In a culture where one out of four girls and women are either raped or sexually assaulted – and where manipulative men routinely traffic vulnerable women into the sex industry – it is not okay that BET allowed this to happen. BET owes its entire audience – particularly girls and women around the world – an apology for its failure to intervene. BET should also take immediate steps to ensure that this kind of sexist performance does not happen again. Sunday night’s show epitomizes why so many black people worldwide are fed up with BET and feel strongly that your network inaccurately represents black men and women.

Please take my letter and criticism as one that represents millions.

Sincerely,

Byron Hurt

What do YOU think? Was BET in the wrong? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

Share with Friends!
  • BlackPlanet
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • email
Tags: , , , , ,

DAILY LINKS

 
  • http://www.blackplanet.com/sweetnbitter87/ sweetnbitter87

    i agree

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/ALCOHOLIC/ ALCOHOLIC

    I AGREE ALSO THEY COULD HAVE DONE A MORE PROFESSIONAL JOB.IT WAS NOT PUT TOGETHER WELL AT ALL.IVE SEEN BET AWARDS IN THE PAST AND THIS I MUST SAY WAS THE WORST EVER….

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Stan_Vinyl/ Stan_Vinyl

    Two things went terribly wrong that night… Chris Brown was ousted (THAT WAS JUST F**KED UP OF JAY-Z TO DO)

    And Young money performed… other than that, they did what they could with a small window of oppritunity.

    Good Job over all!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/mscpa2u/ mscpa2u

    I have not watched them yet but I recorded it just for the Michael Tribute but the most hottest songs are usually performed at award shows! I feel that the young girls was a bit much and should have been escorted off the stage!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Rojas_Da_Boss/ Rojas_Da_Boss

    where da f**k was chris breezy

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Italia0218/ Italia0218

    I’m glad that people are commenting about the lack of common sense displayed during Weezy’s performance. I can’t lie I was jammin’ to the song but was stunned when the girls began walkin on stage. It was wrong and unnecessary.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/HEAD-HUNTER305/ HEAD-HUNTER305

    what sense did it make for wayne to perform if all his words had to be blocked out that was a mess and i agree with the writer of this letter and honestly im not sure how anyone watch b.e.t i know its suppose to be for black people but i wouldnt dare watch it.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/-xVAMPx-/ -xVAMPx-

    I AGREE TO THE FULLEST..THE AWARDS WERE A COMPLETE DISGRACE AND THEY HAD THE NERVE TO TURN IT INTO A TRIBUTE TO THE GREATEST ARTIST OF ALL TIME, SMH THEY SHOULD HAVE JUST MADE A SEPARATE TRIBUTE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MASH IT ALL TOGETHER SHORT NOTICE, IT SUCKED BALLS, IT WAS THE WORST TO DATE….BET AS A WHOLE IS GOING INTO A DOWNWARD SPIRAL, I STOPPED WATCHING THAT CRAP AFTER FREE LEFT 106 AND PARK LMAO THAT WAS YEARS AGO SON, BET IS A COMPLETE DISGRACE TO BLACK PEOPLE, SMH WTF FRANKIE AND NEFFE GOT A SHOW? ALL WE GONNA SEE THERE IS NEFFE AND FRANKIE’S ELABORATE GHETTO ASS DOLLA STO’ WIGS, FRANKIE SUCKIN ON A CRACK PIPE AND NEFFE TRYNNA FIND HER CRACKED OUT ASS WHILE LUGGING HER 17 KIDS ON ONE HIP, THEY GONNA FIGHT, THEY GONNA CRY AND HUG AND THEN SAY THEY’VE LEARNED SOMETHING IN THE END *YAWN* AND WTF TINY AND TOYA? ION WANNA WATCH A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A COKE HEAD/GOLDDIGGIN’ HOE BACK AND HER GHETTO HOODBOOGER ASS FRIEND. SMH BET=BLACK EXPLOITATION TELEVISION.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/sxy-pyt/ sxy-pyt

    i aslo agree; Aaron Mcgruder was on point when he made fun of BET in his cartoon. I loved the tribute and was proud of the network, but then the last performance was like waaay out of left field, and had no meaning to Michael’s life.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/SexxeeMeme09/ SexxeeMeme09

    It was a good a BET to tribute their award show to MJ. But I did not agree with there being young girls on stage! AND DID ANYONE NOTICE THEM TRYING TO BLEEP OUT THE CUSS WORDS BUT FAILED HORRIBLY LOL!!!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/GoinabilityINC/ GoinabilityINC

    That was the realest s**t I’ve read in a few months. BET is a joke and everyone knew that ever since Mr. Johnson sold it in the name of business. When will dudes realize that what’s Black should be kept Black…. From Teen Summit to pre-teens dancing on a stage for grown(at least age-wise) men raping about sex. Motherf**king shame.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Alberto6/ Alberto6

    This is real talk..Show is getting worse. People argue about lingering stereotypes and there we are re-packaging them…that letter really does represents millions..

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/SEXUAL_SEXY_1/ SEXUAL_SEXY_1

    Okay as long as they wasn’t touching the girls….Then I can see the B.I.G deal! As long as they did somthing for M.J people should be happy. It wasn’t BETS fault it was the artists fault.This was a last minute thing,people still mested up. Every one was cursing,Beyonce’ singing s**t people don’t understand. At this time black people need to stick together at this point and time.Instead you all would rather talk s**t what’s the world coming to?

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/LATONYAWARREN/ LATONYAWARREN

    I persoanlly feel the same way Byron does.I felt they should have left the award show as it was and did the tribute show a another night. To me the show was a disaster and a total disrespect to the Jackson family. I’m kinda pist I tivo’d it!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Diary_Of_A_Hustler/ Diary_Of_A_Hustler

    Lil Wayne is corny anyway.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/TTHOMASGG/ TTHOMASGG

    OH MAN! FINALLY WE GOT SOMEONE WROTE A LETTER TO BET,I WAS BOUT TO DO THE SAME DAMN THING!
    YEA I MEAN I CANT FIGURE WHEN THE LAST TIME ,WHAT YEAR WAS THE BEST BET AWARDS EVER ,IM SURE THERE SOME GREATEST OR GOOD MOMENTS.
    I MEAN MJ TRIBUTE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE SOMETHING MAGICAL,INSPIRATION,AND EVERYTHING-EVERYTHANG.BUT …IT TURN OUT TO BE ALRIGHT OR OKAY BUT EVERYTHING OUT OF PROPORTION!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Arrielle2007/ Arrielle2007

    Well he wasnt lying.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/StickUP_Kid/ StickUP_Kid

    Sexual_Sexy__1… Mested is not a word FYI. [I am sorry that really bothered me]

    Anywho, I am happy someone wrote a well written and intelligent letter. The entire award show was horrible, probably the worst award show I have seen from BET. I don’t feel as though they honored MJ and his legacy. The show was rushed and poorly put together. If they wanted to honor the king of pop, they should have held a separate event in his honor. Changing an award show 3 days before it takes place is foolish.

    In regards to lil wayne and his performance, I am not sure whether the network knew that he was going to bring young girls on the stage, while he sang ‘i just wanna f**k every girl in the world.’ I believe his daughter is in a group; however he chose the wrong time to showcase the group, especially since they did not perform themselves. BET is a low class network; I am very surprised they are still on the air.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/erica371/ erica371

    I agree with Byron

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/slice_8706/ slice_8706

    IM sorry but, when MTV does it no one complains about it, When Vh1 does it no one says a word, Flavor of love!!!!!! Black ppl seem to olny want to judge our own. Where were the letters written to them.. “EVERY GIRL” is a top 10 song on the pop charts, everybody has heard it before. And those where Waynes kids on stage they heard their fathers song before. Kids are not that sheltered anymore. I had Sex Ed when i was in 4th grade..

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/BkTalentScout/ BkTalentScout

    BET Awards did the very best that they could. The One Thing that comes to my mind. It may be time for BET Television, produce 3 Different kind of Awards Shows: Gospel Awards, Hip-Hop Awards, Neo Soul Awards. Present these shows in different markets across the nation. God Bless BET, Bk

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/ShaQuana-Tasha/ ShaQuana-Tasha

    I watched the awards again yesterday and I noticed that Drake & lil Wayne actually didn’t say much that was out of left field. The producers were just unsure of what was gonna be said so they just bleeped out 70% of it….lol. If you ask me they should have never let them perform the song in the first place. Radio DJ’s had to work over time to come out with an edited verson. The last two verses were totally outta line though!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/lesdan1/ lesdan1

    I totally agree

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/nakil/ nakil

    I agree with him, he is right. Those girls looked young, they shouldnt have even been there. I think that BET needs to reevaluate somethings.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/ShaQuana-Tasha/ ShaQuana-Tasha

    Personally someone should have pulled the kids off the stage. It seemed like it was an honest mistake & bad judgement. Everyone knows lil wayne cares about his daughter. Everytime he’s at an award show she’s with him & when he wins an award he pulls her on stage with him. With all that being said its not shocking that she was on stage during his performace.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/DMY19151/ DMY19151

    BET DID THE BEST THEY COULD IN SHORT NOTICE…THIS ONE WAS THE LAST OUT OF ALL OF THEM THOUGH…MORE TIME IN ADVANCE…I KNOW THEY WOULD OF HAD USHER AND CHRIS BROWN ON THE SHOW…CHRIS DESERVES A PASS….WE CAN’T JUDGE NO ONE….SHE PROBALY TOLD HIM THE CAR THAT HE CAN’T DANCE…LIKE THE COMEDIAN BOA SAID….D-RAY AND HE WENT OFF….SHE HAS MOVED ON AND HE DESERVES THE RIGHT TO MOVE ON TOO…TRUST ME…YOUNGBOA CHRIS HAS LEARNED FROM THAT TERRIBLE MISTAKE….

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/StickUP_Kid/ StickUP_Kid

    SMH WHEN YOU ARE HONORING A LEGEND, YOU WANT TO PRODUCE A MEMORABLE AND OUTSTANDING SHOW. THE ONLY MEMORY I AM LEFT WITH FROM THE AWARDS IS A BAD ONE!

    HORRIBLE DECISION TO CHANGE A SHOW THAT YOU PREPARE FOR MONTHS IN ADVANCE IN 3 DAYS!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/hardlove133/ hardlove133

    Mr. McGruder was right…Black EVIL Television… LOL

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Katdaddysoul/ Katdaddysoul

    The show sucked..end of story..and Mr.Hurt is touched on a few of many problems with not only the Award show. But BET in itself is such a disappointment..IM sure Mr.Bob Johnson is real proud..

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/VANITY666BONET/ VANITY666BONET

    lol @ a honest mistake give me a break.Miss piggy Tasha stfu u fycking w***e
    The clip i saw of those lil s**tty underage w***es was absolutely disgusting and the child victim org’s ought to handle this situation

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Bigbodychic3/ Bigbodychic3

    Yeah I do have to say BET fcuked up royally with the “bleeping* of the wrong words and I have no clue why they even wanted “every girl” performed …it had some highlights tho but I stopped really watching BET years ago and truth is I only checked the awards for the Mike tribute cuz BET is normally trash esp with all their bootlegging of MTV ideas executed poorly.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/sexytheta/ sexytheta

    what they should have done , honored Michael Jackson on a different day “like on another show” i don’t think there wasn’t anything wrong with Lil Wayne’s daughter and friends on stage …..but i bet those same people that had something to say bout it was bopping their damn head!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Recycup/ Recycup

    I was talking about BET and how disappointed I am with this station. The shows that are on this station are disgraceful to the Black race. I don’t watch this station. I only tuned in to watch the MJ tributes. The awards show did have its highlights; however, I tuned out one Drake’s performance. All BET does is show the “n****rish” side of Black America and Black culture. With just about all of Black publications disappearing, I would think that the executives and powers that be at BET would stand up and start showing ALL of America the positive side of Black people. Why not get rid of the images of bullshiggedy and replace them with positive Black images to show the young Blacks and even other races that Black people can be productive, have brains, and make a positive impact to the community. BET please stop promoting that the only way Black people can be successivefull in this world is by being a sex object, a drug pusher, or downright idiotic. I refuse to let my 11 year old son watch this station. I am totally appalled by the programming that is shown on BET and to the executives of this station, they believe that their programming is quality programming. Poor BET. So disillusioned. You do not represent this Black sista. NOT in the least.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/baby_lady-t/ baby_lady-t

    I agree with Byron Hurt it’s all true…I couldn’t wait until the BET Awards came on I was ready to see all the performance. I could tell from the beginning of the show the it was goning to be boring…It was a big disappointment to me and alot of other people as well… but I did enjoy Maxwell and Ne-Yo

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/babytonnie/ babytonnie

    I stopped watching BET a long time ago when I realized that it was taking a toll on my sense of pride in my race and my IQ. Those of you that are trying to play the devils advocate need to stop. The passive stance some people chose to take claiming that those disgusting performances were fine and we enjoyed them need to wake up and smell coffee. It is that kind of ignorance that led the black community to the place it’s at now; completely disrespected, down graded and in some cases subjugated.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/angie5915/ angie5915

    Poor judgement,and very disappointing.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/alaga5/ alaga5

    I agree 110% with Byron’s comments, however, he left out some important solutions to this issue. BET took “black” folks back 200 years with this pathetic tribute to Michael Jackson. This was nothing more than the old Amos and Andy, buck dancing coon show. It disgraced black folks in this country and Debra Lee should do a public apology and/or resign or be fired from representing “black” folks.

    In addition, I for one will boycott BET in my household and will not participate in the stereotypes that are perpetuated by BET. In fact, why not just take the “B” out of BET? YOU CERTAINLY DO NOT REPRESENT ALL BLACK FOLKS!!

    Shame on you Debra Lee. WE deserve better than that. Truth be told, Michael Jackson, The Jackson Family, and the MJ fans most certainly deserve better than what was presented as a tribute to MJ!

    I AM CALLING FOR A COMPLETE BOYCOTT OF BET; until they begin to represent us in a more positive manner, by supporting BLACK NEWS shows, and presenting more intellectual and uplifting “programs” that dignify our community.

    I am completely ashamed of BET and its producers!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/whozdatladyE/ whozdatladyE

    NO OFFENSE BET (A) FOR EFFORT BUT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE GIVE FOLKS THEIR FLOWERS WHILE LIVING, DON’T WAIT UNTIL AFTER THEIR UNTIMELY DEATH TO TRY TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT YOU COULD HAVE BEEN DOING ALL ALONG UNDER THE GUISE OF A TRIBUTE. AND IF BET EXECS WERE APPLAUDING AND BOPPING THEIR HEADS TO DRAKE THEN MAYBE THEY JUST DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THE WORD TRIBUTE. tribute n. A gift, payment, declaration, or other acknowledgment of gratitude, respect, or admiration. tribute is wealth one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. WELL I FOR SOME REASON MISSED PART OF THE PERFORMANCES PARTICULARLY THIS ONE BUT THE PARTS THAT I DID SEE, I HAD NO REAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT. I THINK THAT BET DID THE BEST THEY COULD WITH WHAT THEY HAD TO WORK WITH AND KEY PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENT PERFORMING IN A “REAL” TRIBUTE WERE UNAVAILABLE IN SUCH SHORT NOTICE OR FOR WHATEVER REASON SO THEY HAD TO TAKE WHAT THEY COULD GET AND EVEN DRAKE HIMSELF APOLOGIZED FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE PREVIOUSLY AND DEEMED IT INAPPROPRIATE AS WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? BUT YOU ARE RIGHT BET HAD THE POWER TO PULL THE PLUG ON THESE PERFORMANCES. AND SOME OF JAMIE FOXX’S JOKES ALTHOUGH FUNNY WERE INAPPROPRIATE TO AIR IN “MIXED COMPANY” (THE ONES WHO CARED ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON WHO WERE OFFENDED AND THE ONES WHO DID NOT GIVE A RAT’S A*S WHO WERE NOT OFFENDED). IN OTHER WORDS HAD WE WERE SITTING HOME IN THE GARAGE DRINKING THEY WERE HILARIOUS BUT NOT AT A TRIBUTE. TWO CAME TO MIND THAT I WILL NOT REPEAT WERE VERY INSULTING TO HIS FAMILY PARTICULARLY TO HIS CHILDREN. MAYBE EVEN AT THE BARBER SHOP BUT NOT ON NATIONAL TELEVISION WHERE PEOPLE WHO LOVED HIM COULD WERE IN EARSHOT AND THE PRESS THERE TO CONTINUE TO RUB SALT IN THE WOUND.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/whozdatladyE/ whozdatladyE

    I DIDN’T SEE CIARA BUT I THINK THAT IT WAS JUST THE WRONG SONG THAT SONG REQUIRES A CHOIR AS BACK UP EVEN WHEN MICHAEL JACKSON HIMSELF PERFORMED IT HE PLAYED THE BACKUP CHOIR PARTS. AND TURNED AWAY FROM KERI HILSON ON PURPOSE. LOVE JAY-Z FOR TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THE YOUNGER RAPPERS TO STEP UP THEIR GAME ESPECIALLY SINCE I READ THE AGES OF THE CURRENT POPULAR RAPPERS. THE DEATH OF THESE RAPPERS COULD BE THE DEATH OF THE RAP INDUSTRY. SO BET NEEDS TO HELP THEM NOT PLAY THEM JUST TO “PLAY” THEM. MUSIC STYLINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO LIVE ON FOREVER NOT BE DRAGGED DOWN TO MAKE A BUCK. AT FIRST I QUESTIONED HIS CHOICE OF SONG BUT AFTER I READ THE LYRICS USING MICHAEL JACKSON’S TRIBUTE TO INSPIRE UP AND COMING RAPPERS BUT AT THE SAME TIME TRYING TO SQUASH THE TALENTED CHRIS BROWN FOR A MISTAKE THAT HE MADE IN HIS YOUTH INSTEAD OF MENTORING HIM AND SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR HIM TO BECOME A BETTER MAN. TITUS 2:6Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.(NIV)

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/whynottry/ whynottry

    I 100% disagree look it is not BET , it is the state of the minds of the world and a lot of Black world, now you have all if the groups the say nothing but you buy their misic, Soluder boy ok what was that i was embaress for his, and lill wyane is just he needs a bath, wash his hair and oh yea talk to God jesus or aanyone to find out what it takes to be a man soo i say all that to say the state of the mind set of people that hink all of it is ok ? start there dont blem it on tha show . i am prouthat we as black people have come so far but never forget, some people just dont get it. i love you all but as MJ sang start with the man in the mirror look at your self lol

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/jxellars/ jxellars

    I think this person has a valid point but also is off on his views. I did think it was f**ked up that they actually brought out young teenage girls out for a song for older women. But you can not blame BET for every thing that goes on in black America. Besides the one incidence the show was very well put together, especially for a 3 day major event. The person who wrote this letter is one that is ashamed of his black people. He probably criticize every black person he see on TV because they don’t do what he want them to do. He go have to get over the negative attitude against all black people. If you don’t like what you see do the same thing I do, turn the f**king channel.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/MsKoffee68/ MsKoffee68

    I have to agree. I was really in shock that the young girls were placed on stage while Drake performed. And I may be wrong, but wasn’t one of the little girls Wayne’s daughter??? BET has got to step away from these sterotypes. My mom tried watching it to see the MJ tribute and said she didn’t enjoy any part of it and didn’t understand how BET failed bleeping out the words that should have been sensored instead of the others..I understand it’s live, but if we learned nothing else from Janet’s superbowl “appearance” it should have been to create a 10 second delay

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/ms_real2008/ ms_real2008

    Honestly, i don’t blame him and i’m glad he did it anyway, someone needs to. it just saddens me that some parents do not care about the effect of their children prancing around on stage in that disrespectful song “every girl.”
    Oh, in case some of you guy didn’t know, the young ladies who were dancing on the stage during wayne’s performance were: his daughter, tiny’s oldest child and also their friends. No, i’m not just saying this as a hater because i woudn’t want my child to listen to the song, much less dance on stage to it. It’s also sad that Debra Lee only care about ratings instead of how this can create and possibly confirm sterotypes.
    Well, at least she has shown me why i don’t watch the B.E.T. awards or even finish watching it! Thanks Debra Lee for not giving a rats ass about the evoluton of blacks!
    P.S: MsKoffee68: nope,you weren’t wrong, that was lil wayne’s daughter and her friends on stage.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/ms_real2008/ ms_real2008

    *Correction:
    Honestly, i don’t blame him for writing this letter and i’m glad he did it anyway, someone needs to.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/mrnasty/ mrnasty

    bet could have did alot better with the drake performance… the mj tribute could have been alot better! but hey what can we say !

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Dream_Ecstasy/ Dream_Ecstasy

    “Some things in life they just don’t wanna see
    But if Martin Luther was livin’
    He wouldn’t let this be

    Skin head, dead head
    Everybody gone bad
    Situation, segregation
    Everybody allegation
    In the suite, on the news
    Everybody dog food
    Kick me, strike me
    Don’t you wrong or right me

    All I wanna say is that
    They don’t really care about us
    All I wanna say is that
    They don’t really care about us”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCqQ2JcQWGs&NR=1

  • http://theurbandaily.blackplanet.com/tv/bet-denounces-lil-wayne-performance-drake-apologizes/ BET Denounces Lil Wayne Performance, Drake Apologizes | The Urban Daily

    [...] “In a culture where one out of four girls and women are either raped or sexually assaulted – and where manipulative men routinely traffic vulnerable women into the sex industry – it is not okay that BET allowed this to happen,” Hurt said. “BET owes its entire audience – particularly girls and women around the world – an apology for its failure to intervene.” [Read His Full Statement HERE] [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/alimc27/ alimc27

    I have not watched BET in a long time because I was disappointed in the way they represented “us”. However, because BET was allegedly going to give a tribute to Michael Jackson, I decided to watch it. What a complete utter disgrace. The only thing I could think of was “this is GHET-TO!!!!” I was so embarrased. I felt like I was living a nightmare. Even our forefathers had enough common decency to represent “us” in a dignified manner.

    BET, you owe Michael Jackson’s family, us and the entire viewing audience an apology. If you believe you did a good job, then you need to cancel every future award show that you attempt to put on. (And your line up for next season has much to be desired(

    My husband and I were horrified that you did such a horrendous job. I agree with previous comments that the entire executive staff should resign. Is this a “yessum” administration????

    Everyone, please go to Youtube and put in BET awards and watch a young man name saggitarius (I think). His language is a bit much, but the brother spoke the truth.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/sharonhulse/ sharonhulse

    BET IS A JOKE…WHERE’S THE MUSIC & VIDEOS LEVEL OF A HIGHER COMPROMISE….IF IT’S NOT A POSITIVE OR INSPIRATIONAL SHOWCASE OF TALENT THEN WHY DO YOU PLAY IT? YOU SAY YOU ARE COMMITTED TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY..CAN YOU HONESTLY SAY THAT YOUR NETWORK PRODUCT RE-ENFORCES THAT? NO! THESE GUYS BRAG ABOUT MONEY,SEX,BEEFS & DEGRADES WOMEN AND THEY RECIEVE ALL THE AIR TIME & ACCOLADES. THEY START TO BELIEVE THEIR HYPE THEN THEY WONDER WHY THEIR PERSONAL LIVES ARE SO NEGATIVE.
    BET PLEASE RAISE YOUR STANDARDS FOR ARTISTS TO COMPLY WITH IF THEY WANT TO BE SHOWCASED ON YOUR NETWORK. YOU SET THE BAR DON’T BE MANIPULATED.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/kudomudo/ kudomudo

    Why the hell didn’t you have Aretha Franklin on giving a tribute to Michael Jackson, Chaka, Stevie, James Ingram, R. Kelly, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera..dame Amy Winehouse could’ve represented better..I would’ve represented Michael for FREE!
    There is a time and place for everything! You should have went went your regular BET program and did a tribute later…even if it was 2 years later!
    What was all this girly flapping of young money’s hand like a little girl???
    The next time you have half speaking english thugs on tv, please PUT UP DAME SUBTITLES so the American ppl can understand what they’re saying!
    Would the BET executives allow their little girls to be on stage dancing to such lyrics??
    Get back to real music, real singers, with real messages! Your show represented NOTHING..NADA..ZERO..ZILCH about Michael.
    Why was Jamie Fox promoting his CD/Concert through the night??
    Watch your WHITE counterparts who will most likely do a better job than you did in tributing MICHAEL JACKSON! What does this say about having a woman run BET?? Review past BET awards from the 80′s and 90′s..update it with class and get a clue!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/poeticsong320/ poeticsong320

    I’m reading most of these comments . . . well the ones not typed in all CAPITAL letters. I agree that the BET AWARDS was below par. Yes, BET needs to change their agenda. I won’t get into specifics. Michael Jackson should be honored again on BET. Most of the comments are complaints about BET. Will someone please tell me another network that shows black people in a positive light, if at all? Most of the networks do not show any black shows or predominantly black shows on television. Reruns are excluded. I know Tyler Perry is trying, but . . . at least he is trying. Most of the shows on the networks are reality shows. Now that’s what should be boycotted against. Many of these shows are ridiculous. We are also responsible for ourselves and our children. We have to teach them to distinguish between positive and negative images, but even negative black people are our people. I feel that if you do not like what you see, make a stand or change the channel. How can you blame a network for portraying negative images and stereotypes when some black people perpetuate them at home? Still, I don’t feel it’s so abysmal where black people need to hang their heads in shame for fear of proving other races right. Every race has flaws. We’re all human. Some of us really need to lose this mentality as if black people have to provide the perfect paradigm for the proper code of conduct and manners. We all need to take responsibility and not just single out the so-called black network. You have so many more to choose from. Why not start with the news? Who’s brave enough?

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/MrsDee62/ MrsDee62

    What a insult to Michael’s memory. Michael crossed boundaries, not by using curse words, but by his lyrics. These go call black entertains need to wake up look at how they disgrace Michael’s memory. Now I know why I don’t watch Bet, but others I wanted to see the tribute to Michael. I looked at the O’Jay’s now that is how you dress & present a great entertainer. Jay Z & Wayne just to name a few should be embarass to show their faces. They are a disgrace to all that we are trying to achieve.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/dod1972/ dod1972

    Yes,i watched it with my girlfreind we both said what a shame!!!!!!!!!!! real real sad!!!! on bet part mrs.Lee should have never let little wayne and his little so called crew come on the show at all!!!!!! and i did not like the way jamie fox hosted it he was making jokes about mj in is little sneaky kinda of way when he was talkig then at the end at the sit down after the show you can tell he was drunk looking at alicia keys ass when she walked by them also TI little girlfreind looked like a dam hooker!!!!!!!!!!! and can tell she was high also when she came to get the award for him it was real sad!!!!!! mj and the whole jackson family was a powerful singers and family Bet should say they are so so sorry for having for having a show in memory of him like that mrs.Lee take charge and say you sorry to us as a black family because we are in this struggle together as obama our leader in charge!!! and to the jackson family for putting that garbage !!!!!!!!show together you need to have a press conference to the world!!!!!!! because everybody around world saw the show that night may mj rest in peace!!!!!!!!! and dont ever allow that again!!!! mrs.Lee when you do a trubite to when another family member passes in our family GOD BLESS YOU

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/NJOY26/ NJOY26

    I TOTALLY AGREE W/ BYRON HURT. BET NEEDS TO STEP IT UP. THAT SHOW WAS VERY EMBARASSING AND A DISGRACE

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Atl_Gurl-4-Life/ Atl_Gurl-4-Life

    Ok I feel the fact BET did do a bad job on the tribute to Micheal Jackson and a bad thing to not catch the young girls on stage with lil wayne and company. One thing I will not put up with is the fact many of you fail to see that we don’t have that many networks that show black shows. TBS shows Tyler Perry’s shows, The CW Tyra and american’s next top model, and is it ABC or NBC show Oprah. To Kudomudo sweetie the BET awards is only nine years old cause in the 80′s and 90′s we didn’t a have a awards show just for us and i know that and i’m 25 years old. I do feel that Jamie Foxx was the wrong choice to host the award show this year but he was already set to host the show before MJ died so it was nothin that BET couold do to get someome else to host in three days. Many forgot that the show was changed around in three days to have a tribute to Micheal and i really feel it could have waited till later on in the week to have one but they as a network felt it would be better to give him one then. Lil wayne may have not changed his performs to suit the changes and made a choice at that could hurt him in more ways then one by having his daughter and her friends on stage for a song where he’s talkin bout wishing he could have sex with every girl in the world. My thing is everyone wants to say something bout lil wayne and drake performs this year butno one even said anythin bout jamie foxx performing Blame It last year no one said anything bout ciara’s perform nor lil wayne’s when he did Lilpop. So since everyone wants to jump down the back of a network that shows black shows, has a awards show that’s is for us about something that they clearly missed this year then ya’ll really have nothing better to do with your time. I’m sorry that show don’t make us who we are we make us. Stop playing this we have a black president in office s**t that we need to better our selfs as a black race. I hate to be the one to say this but it shouldn’t matter if we have a black president or a white president on us setting a exmple for the the youth of our race. That’s something that starts in the house and letting them know that the can do anything and everything that any other race feel they can do. For the young women and little girls we have to let them know that they are pretty smart and feel important to keep them from these men that feed on the weakness of them when they are looking for that something that they are not getting from home. So really take time out to think before you start making comments about how you’re not watching BET and they let us as a race down with that poor tirbute to Micheal Jackson cause i hate to say did the best they could having three days really not even that to change a whole show. So really think about what you say and what they had to go through just to get what they got together. Now if anything should be said is about the fact cover girl, beyonce, and jay-z not wanting chirs brown to perform a tirbute to Micheal Jackson at the BET awards. Yeah I said it the young man said he waas wrong for putting his hands on a woman so why not let him perform for a man that made him want to sing and dance?

  • http://theurbandaily.com/news/casey-gane-mccalla/bet-will-have-a-socially-conscious-hip-hop-show/ BET Will Have A Socially Conscious Hip-Hop Show | The Urban Daily

    [...] Byron Hurt Writes A Letter To BET! [...]

  • http://finalpricevehi.shikshik.org/2012/01/30/tobet-girls/ Tobet girls | Finalpricevehi

    [...] Byron Hurt Writes A Letter To BET! | The Urban DailyJul 1, 2009 … In a culture where one out of four girls and women are either raped or …. FINALLY WE GOT SOMEONE WROTE A LETTER TO BET,I WAS … [...]

blog comments powered by Disqus
?>