<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/bet-awards-2021-cardi-b-megan-thee-stallion-her-and-andra-day-are-big-winners-on-the-night-1.1250094" target="_blank">The BET Awards</a> took place on Sunday night in the US, hosted by Taraji P Henson for the second year, live from Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles. The awards celebrate "Black excellence" in music, culture and sport, and are billed as "culture's biggest night". <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/2022/06/14/lizzo-removes-harmful-ableist-slur-from-new-song-grrrls/" target="_blank">Lizzo</a> kicked off proceedings, performing her latest hit <i>About Damn Time</i>, while Brandy surprised guests, joining Jack Harlow<i> </i>for a performance of his song <i>First Class</i>. Mariah Carey also took to the stage with Latto. Meanwhile, Chance the Rapper and Joey Bada$$ performed <i>The Highs & the Lows</i>. In her pink gown, Muni Long opened her set with a snippet of <i>Time Machine</i>, before performing <i>Hrs & Hrs</i>. Singer Tems, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, won Best Collaboration with Justin Bieber and Wizkid for their song <i>Essence</i>. “Where I’m from, things like this don’t happen,” she said. “This is a dream. If you’re watching me, I want you to imagine yourself as me because you are meant to be here, too.” Doja Cat entered the show having received the most nominations, with six, although came away with no awards. The chart-topping performer was up for Best Female R&B-Pop Artist, Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, Album of the Year for her No 1 record <i>Planet Her</i> and the BET Her award for her song <i>Woman</i>. Her <i>Kiss Me More</i> with SZA was nominated for Video of the Year and Best Collaboration. Sean “Diddy” Combs received the Lifetime Achievement Award — one of the highest honours at the ceremony. The music mogul is the founder of Bad Boy Records, has his own television network, fashion line and is a three-time Grammy winner who has worked with a number of top-tier artists including Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil' Kim, Faith Evans and 112. Drake and Ari Lennox were the second-most nominated acts, scoring four nods each. Three nominations went to several others including Baby Keem, Silk Sonic, Chloe Bailey, Future, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, Mary J. Blige and Tems. Will Smith bagged Best Actor for<i> King Richard</i>, following his<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film/2022/04/10/will-smiths-oscars-ban-is-divisive-this-is-100-per-cent-racially-motivated/" target="_blank"> controversial Oscars win</a>. The winners in the 19 categories, including film and sports awards, are selected by BET’s Voting Academy, comprised of entertainment professionals and fans. Ari Lennox Chloe Doja Cat H.E.R. <b>WINNER: Jazmine Sullivan</b> Mary J. Blige Summer Walker Blxst Chris Brown Giveon Lucky Daye <b>WINNER: The Weeknd</b> Wizkid Yung Bleu <b>WINNER: Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak)</b> Chloe X Halle City Girls Lil Baby & Lil Durk Migos Young Dolph and Key Glock <b>WINNER: </b>Wizkid feat. Justin Bieber and Tems, <i>Essence</i> DJ Khaled feat. Lil Baby and Lil Durk, <i>Every Chance I Get</i> Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar, <i>Family Ties</i> Doja Cat feat. SZA, <i>Kiss Me More</i> Drake feat. Future and Young Thug, <i>Way 2 Sexy</i> Bia feat. Nicki Minaj, <i>Whole Lotta Money (Remix)</i> Cardi B Doja Cat Latto <b>WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion</b> Nicki Minaj Saweetie Drake Future J. Cole Jack Harlow Kanye West <b>WINNER: Kendrick Lamar</b> Lil Baby Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar, <i>Family Ties</i> Chloe, <i>Have Mercy</i> Doja Cat feat. SZA, <i>Kiss Me More</i> Ari Lennox - <i>Pressure</i> <b>WINNER: Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak), </b><i><b>Smokin Out The Window</b></i> Drake feat. Future and Young Thug,<i> Way 2 Sexy</i> <b>WINNER: Anderson .Paak a.k.a. Director .Paak</b> Benny Boom Beyonce and Dikayl Rimmasch Director X Hype Williams Missy Elliott Baby Keem Benny the Butcher <b>WINNER: Latto</b> Muni Long Tems Yung Bleu <b>WINNER: Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak), </b><i><b>An Evening with Silk Sonic</b></i> H.E.R., <i>Back of My Mind</i> Tyler, the Creator, <i>Call Me If You Get Lost</i> Drake, <i>Certified Lover Boy</i> Kanye West, <i>Donda</i> Jazmine Sullivan, <i>Heaux Tales, Mo' Tales: The Deluxe</i> Doja Cat, <i>Planet Her</i> Marvin Sapp, <i>All In Your Hands</i> Kanye West, <i>Come to Life</i> Kelly Price, <i>Grace</i> Fred Hammond, <i>Hallelujah</i> H.E.R. and Tauren Wells, <i>Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)</i> Election Worship and Maverick City Music, <i>Jireh</i> <b>WINNER: Lil Baby X Kirk Franklin, </b><i><b>We Win</b></i> Alicia Keys, <i>Best of Me (Originals)</i> <b>WINNER: Mary J. Blige, </b><i><b>Good Morning Gorgeous</b></i> Chloe, <i>Have Mercy</i> Ari Lennox, <i>Pressure</i> Jazmine Sullivan, <i>Roster</i> Summer Walker & Ari Lennox, <i>Unloyal</i> Doja Cat, <i>Woman</i> Dave (UK) Dinos (France) Fally Ipupa (DRC) Fireboy DML (Nigeria) Little Simz (UK) Ludmilla (Brazil) Major League DJZ (South Africa) Tayc (France) <b>WINNER: Tems (Nigeria)</b> <i>Candyman</i> <b>WINNER: </b><i><b>King Richard</b></i> <i>Respect</i> <i>Space Jam: A New Legacy</i> <i>Summer of Soul</i> <i>The Harder They Fall</i> Adrian Holmes - <i>Bel-Air</i> Anthony Anderson - <i>Black-ish</i> Damson Idris - <i>Snowfall</i> Denzel Washington - <i>The Tragedy of Macbeth</i> Forest Whitaker - <i>Respect </i>/ <i>Godfather of Harlem</i> Jabari Banks - <i>Bel-Air</i> Sterling K. Brown - <i>This Is Us</i> <b>WINNER: Will Smith - </b><i><b>King Richard</b></i> Aunjanue Ellis - <i>King Richard</i> Coco Jones -<i> Bel-Air</i> Issa Rae - <i>Insecure</i> Jennifer Hudson - <i>Respect</i> Mary J. Blige - <i>Power Book II: Ghost</i> Queen Latifah - <i>The Equalizer</i> Quinta Brunson - <i>Abbott Elementary</i> Regina King - <i>The Harder They Fall</i> <b>WINNER: Zendaya - </b><i><b>Euphoria</b></i><b> / </b><i><b>Spider-Man: No Way Home</b></i> Akira Akbar Demi Singleton Miles Brown Saniyya Sidney Storm Reid <b>WINNER: Marsai Martin</b> Brittney Griner Candace Parker <b>WINNER: Naomi Osaka</b> Serena Williams Sha'Carri Richardson Simone Biles Aaron Donald Bubba Wallace Giannis Antetokounmpo Ja Morant LeBron James <b>WINNER: Stephen Curry</b> <i>— Additional reporting from AP</i>