Lil Nas X calls out 2022 BET Awards for snubbing him again - Los Angeles Times
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Lil Nas X calls out 2022 BET Awards snub: ‘An outstanding zero nominations again’

A man in yellow fringe and a cowboy hat performs onstage
Lil Nas X, seen performing at the 2019 BET Awards, received no nominations for this year’s ceremony.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)
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Rap sensation Doja Cat emerged Wednesday as the top nominee at this year’s BET Awards. The “Woman” hitmaker is nominated in six categories, including album of the year for her third studio record, “Planet Her.”

Rounding out Doja Cat’s nominations are female R&B/pop artist, female hip-hop artist, BET Her (“Woman”), best collaboration (“Kiss Me More,” featuring SZA) and video of the year (“Kiss Me More”). Trailing Doja Cat with four nominations apiece are rapper Drake and R&B singer Ari Lennox, BET announced Wednesday.

Missing from the list, however, is Lil Nas X, who scored no BET nominations for the second consecutive year; he was up for best new artist — but lost — in 2020. His wildly popular debut album, “Montero,” was nominated for five Grammy Awards this year.

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True to form, the genre-defying superstar called out BET for the snub Wednesday, tweeting, “thank you bet awards. an outstanding zero nominations again. black excellence!”

When a Twitter troll accused Lil Nas X of using his gay identity as an “excuse” to criticize the BET Awards and questioned what music he’s “put out” recently, the “Thats What I Want” hitmaker fired back: “idk maybe 3 of the biggest songs of last year & a critically acclaimed album ... i feel like that should’ve helped me a bit.”

“doesn’t even have to be me nominated,” he added in a follow-up tweet. “i just feel like black gay ppl have to fight to be seen in this world and even when we make it to the top mfs try to pretend we are invisible.”

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In response to another commenter who argued that he shouldn’t be eligible because he is a “pop artist” and the “BET HIP HOP Awards are for BET HIP HOP/Rap and R&B artists,” Lil Nas X wrote, “no offense but u are literally of caucasian persuasion and trying to school me on an award show i’ve watched my entire childhood + it’s not the hip hop awards + they have a pop category.” (The BET Hip Hop Awards are distributed at a separate ceremony also hosted by the network.)

The rapper and singer has since deleted all of his tweets about the BET Award nominations. Representatives for BET did not immediately respond Wednesday to The Times’ request for comment.

Host Taraji P. Henson celebrated Black female icons at Sunday’s 2021 BET Awards, while Lil Nas X, Zendaya and others wowed fans on the red carpet.

June 28, 2021

Drake is nominated for male hip-hop artist, collaboration (“Way 2 Sexy,” featuring Future and Young Thug), video of the year (“Way 2 Sexy”) and album of the year (“Certified Lover Boy”), while Lennox is up for female R&B/pop artist, video of the year (“Pressure”) and BET Her (“Pressure” and “Unloyal”).

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Other artists who received multiple nominations on Wednesday include Baby Keem, Chlöe, Future, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, Mary J. Blige, Tems and Silk Sonic’s Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak.

BET also has recognized a number of athletes and actors whose work has the power to effect change while showcasing the “best, brightest, and most beautiful aspects of the Black experience.”

Among the film and TV nominees are Zendaya (“Euphoria,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home”), Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”), Denzel Washington (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”), Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”), Issa Rae (“Insecure”), Jennifer Hudson (“Respect”), Queen Latifah (“The Equalizer”), Regina King (“The Harder They Fall”) and Will Smith (“King Richard”).

The 2022 BET Awards, hosted by actor Taraji P. Henson, will be broadcast on BET on June 26 at 8 p.m. Pacific from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Here’s the full list of nominees.

A woman performs onstage looking over her shoulder
Doja Cat leads the nominations for this year’s BET Awards.
(Amy Harris / Invision/Associated Press)

Female R&B/pop artist

  • Ari Lennox
  • Chlöe
  • Doja Cat
  • H.E.R.
  • Jazmine Sullivan
  • Mary J. Blige
  • Summer Walker
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Male R&B/pop artist

  • Blxst
  • Chris Brown
  • Giveon
  • Lucky Daye
  • The Weeknd
  • Wizkid
  • Yung Bleu

Group

  • Silk Sonic
  • Chlöe x Halle
  • City Girls
  • Lil Baby & Lil Durk
  • Migos
  • Young Dolph & Key Glock

Best collaboration

  • “Essence” by Wizkid featuring Justin Bieber and Tems
  • “Every Chance I Get” by DJ Khaled featuring Lil Baby and Lil Durk
  • “Family Ties” by Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar
  • “Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat featuring SZA
  • “Way 2 Sexy” by Drake featuring Future and Young Thug
  • “Whole Lotta Money (Remix)” by Bia featuring Nicki Minaj

Female hip-hop artist

  • Cardi B
  • Doja Cat
  • Latto
  • Megan Thee Stallion
  • Nicki Minaj
  • Saweetie

Male hip-hop artist

  • Drake
  • Future
  • J. Cole
  • Jack Harlow
  • Kanye West
  • Kendrick Lamar
  • Lil Baby
Two seated men sing into microphones onstage.
BET Award nominations for Silk Sonic — featuring Anderson .Paak, left, and Bruno Mars — include best group and album of the year.
(John Esparza)

Video of the year

  • “Family Ties” by Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar
  • “Have Mercy” by Chlöe
  • “Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat featuring SZA
  • “Pressure” by Ari Lennox
  • “Smokin Out the Window” by Silk Sonic
  • “Way 2 Sexy” by Drake featuring Future and Young Thug
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Video director of the year

  • Anderson .Paak
  • Benny Bloom
  • Beyoncé and Dikayl Rimmasch
  • Director X
  • Hype Williams
  • Missy Elliott

Best new artist

  • Baby Keem
  • Benny the Butcher
  • Latto
  • Muni Long
  • Tems
  • Yung Bleu

Album of the year

  • “An Evening With Silk Sonic” by Silk Sonic
  • “Back of My Mind” by H.E.R.
  • “Call Me If You Get Lost” by Tyler, the Creator
  • “Certified Lover Boy” by Drake
  • “Donda” by Kanye West
  • “Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe” by Jazmine Sullivan
  • “Planet Her” by Doja Cat

Dr. Bobby Jones Gospel/Inspirational Award

  • “All in Your Hands” by Marvin Sapp
  • “Come to Life” by Kanye West
  • “Grace” by Kelly Price
  • “Hallelujah” by Fred Hammond
  • “Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)” by H.E.R. and Tauren Wells
  • “Jireh” by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music
  • “We Win” by Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin

BET Her

  • “Best of Me (Originals)” by Alicia Keys
  • “Good Morning Gorgeous” by Mary J. Blige
  • “Have Mercy” by Chlöe
  • “Pressure” by Ari Lennox
  • “Roster” by Jazmine Sullivan
  • “Unloyal” by Summer Walker and Ari Lennox
  • “Woman” by Doja Cat

International act

  • Dave (United Kingdom)
  • Dinos (France)
  • Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
  • Fireboy DML (Nigeria)
  • Little Simz (U.K.)
  • Ludmilla (Brazil)
  • Major League DJZ (South Africa)
  • Tayc (France)
  • Tems (Nigeria)
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Best movie

  • “Candyman”
  • “King Richard”
  • “Respect”
  • “Space Jam: A New Legacy”
  • “Summer of Soul”
  • “The Harder They Fall”

Best actor

  • Adrian Holmes (“Bel-Air”)
  • Anthony Anderson (“black-ish”)
  • Damson Idris (“Snowfall”)
  • Denzel Washington (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”)
  • Forest Whitaker (“Respect,” “Godfather of Harlem”)
  • Jabari Banks (“Bel-Air”)
  • Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
  • Will Smith (“King Richard”)

Best actress

  • Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”)
  • Coco Jones (“Bel-Air”)
  • Issa Rae (“Insecure”)
  • Jennifer Hudson (“Respect”)
  • Mary J. Blige (“Power Book II: Ghost”)
  • Queen Latifah (“The Equalizer”)
  • Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”)
  • Regina King (“The Harder They Fall”)
  • Zendaya (“Euphoria,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home”)

Young Stars Award

  • Akira Akbar
  • Demi Singleton
  • Marsai Martin
  • Miles Brown
  • Saniyya Sidney
  • Storm Reid

Sportswoman of the year

  • Brittney Griner
  • Candace Parker
  • Naomi Osaka
  • Serena Williams
  • Sha’Carri Richardson
  • Simone Biles

Sportsman of the year

  • Aaron Donald
  • Bubba Wallace
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo
  • Ja Morant
  • LeBron James
  • Stephen Curry
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