The 21st annual BET awards, which honour black excellence in entertainment and sports, returned on Sunday night and left many viewers stunned with various memorable moments.
The awards event, which took place at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, was graced by top celebrities and bigwigs in the global showbiz industry.
It also saw jaw-dropping performances from Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Nas X, Jazmine Sullivan and even tributes honouring industry titans like Queen Latifah and the late DMX.
Read Also: Megan Thee Stallion Leads 2021 BET Awards Winners (Full List)
Check out our favorite moments from the show below:
Burna Boy’s winning streak
Burna Boy continued his winning streak at the annual awards on the night as he snagged the ‘Best New International Act’ for the third consecutive time.
The ‘African Giant’ crooner snagged the prize after beating Wizkid, his colleague, while Tems lost her first-ever shot at the award to Bree Runway, an English singer and songwriter, who won the ‘Best International New Act’ gong.
Burna Boy was nominated in the category alongside Aya Nakamura (France), Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania), Emicida (Brazil), Headie One (UK), Wizkid (Nigeria), Young T & Bugsey (UK), Youssoupha (France).
Cardi B announces second pregnancy
Cardi B broke the internet when she joined Migos in their performance at BET Awards, while simultaneously announcing her pregnancy to the world.
Read Also: Cardi B Reveals She’s Expecting Second Child With Offset During BET Awards Performance (Video)
The rapper showed off her baby bump while performing alongside Offset, her husband, and the group Migos.
Cardi B joined the trio on the stage wearing a black, glittery bodysuit, which featured a sheer panel that exposed her belly.
The performer shared an official pregnancy announcement to her Instagram page as she performed, creating a perfect storm and a Twitter frenzy.
The couple are already parents to daughter Kulture Kiari, who turns 3 in July. Offset, 29, is also dad to daughter Kalea, 6, and sons Kody, 6, and Jordan, 11, from previous relationships.
Lil Nas X kisses male dancer
Lil Nas X also dazzled the audience on the night with an energetic performance of ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’, his hit song.
The openly gay rapper took to the stage and have an Egyptian-themed performance which referenced “Remember the Time” by Michael Jackson thorough its choreography, and showed the rapper expressing his truth via his energetic performance.
In a finale fitting for the last weekend of Pride Month, Lil Nas X concluded the song by passionately kissing one of his male dancers as the crowd roared.
Lil Nas X is the black gay popstar I needed to see as a kid. The fearlessness it takes to be so decidedly queer in front of a notoriously homophobic audience. I needed that. pic.twitter.com/Y7n4ZGDGEM
— Sisa (@BaddieTitan) June 28, 2021
After immediately trending on social media, Lil Nas X began to engage with fans and admirers tweeting at him, praising him for the bold step.
Queen Latifah’s touching speech
Queen Latifah, Grammy and Emmy winning American singer-actor, was honored with the lifetime achievement award for her 30-year career during the event.
After a moving tribute video and star-studded performance of some of her greatest hits by Monie Love, Lil’ Kim, Rapsody, and MC Lyte, the rapper, actress, and producer thanked her family and peers.
Latifah melted hearts with her touching acceptance speech dedicated to Lancelot Owens, her father, who accompanied her to the event.
The 51-year-old showbiz mogul also paid tribute to Rita Owens, her late mother, whom she carried a photo of onstage.
She concluded her acceptance speech by wishing everyone a ‘Happy Pride’ month.
Queen Latifah Lifetime Achievement #BETAwards Salutes the lgbtq community. Happy Pride 💜🌈#LoveWins pic.twitter.com/o1W09DBMtB
— Nina Nicole Kapowski (@NinaNicoleShow) June 28, 2021
DMX’s memorable tribute
Another major highlight of the show was tribute to Earl Simmons, late American rap legend better known as DMX.
Read Also: Breaking: Iconic Rapper, DMX Dies At 50 – One Week After Heart Attack
Several music stars including Busta Rhymes, Method Man and Swizz Beatz honored the late rapper with renditions of his classic hits.
Michael K. Williams also appeared in the tribute, and Twitter users immediately called for the actor to play DMX in a biopic of his life.
BET Awards pay Tribute to DMX.🕊#ripdmx #betawards2021 pic.twitter.com/eswwLoG7Dx
— ZONE23 (@ZONE23WORLD) June 28, 2021
It would be recalled that DMX passed away in April after suffering a heart attack from an apparent drug overdose.
