a href="/myfiles/Images/2015/06/30/mamu_big.jpg" title="Kendrick Lamar performs "Alright" during the 2015 BET Awards in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday. - Reuters " Kendrick Lamar performs "Alright" during the 2015 BET Awards in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday. - Reuters
LOS ANGELES - 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. 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.
"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." - AP
