From L to R: Kendrick Lamar, Moliy, Doechii and Steve Wonder at the 2025 BET
The 25th anniversary of the BET Awards was held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025.
Dedicated to honouring Black excellence in music, film, television, and sports, the event brought together entertainment giants from around the world under one roof.
While the night was a resounding success, our ‘lenses’ captured a few unexpected and intriguing moments, some of which quickly generated buzz across social media.
This article highlights five standout moments from the 2025 BET Awards.
1. Doechii called out Trump and ICE for the LA protests
Florida rapper Doechii took home the Best Female Hip‑Hop Artiste at the 2025 BET Awards. During her acceptance speech, she used her moment on stage to call out Trump and ICE for the LA protests and also addressed Gaza and trans rights.
“I do wanna address what’s happening right now outside of the building. Trump is using military force to stop a protest. People are being swept up and torn from their families. I hope we stand together… against hate and we protest against it,” she stated.
Doechii’s speech drew loud cheers inside the auditorium.
“Trump is using military forces to stop a protest — I want y’all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us.”
— Doechii at the #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/Lx6tkKaEDR
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 10, 2025
2. Stevie Wonder cracks an interesting joke when he was called to present the Ultimate Icon Award to Jamie Foxx
The visually impaired music legend presented the Ultimate Icon Award to Jamie Foxx, and before the presentation, he cracked a joke that had the whole room laughing.
Where he mentioned that he spent long hours watching and editing the tribute video for Jamie Foxx, the joke, coming from an artiste who is blind, broke the ice and got the entire auditorium laughing.
“Oh, by the way, just remember, be clear, I spent tireless hours watching and editing the footage for this tribute tonight. So please, pay attention and enjoy,” Steve Wonder said.
Stevie Wonder cracks a joke on stage saying, “I spent tireless hours watching and editing the footage for this tribute tonight” at the #BETAwards🤣🤣
— billboard hip-hop/r&b (@billboardhiphop) June 10, 2025
3. Moliy performs at the 2025 BET Awards pre‑show
Ghanaian afrofusion singer Moliy landed her first BET performance, an achievement that has been lauded by many.
She performed her popular ‘Shake it to the max’ and this had fans waving Ghanaian and Jamaican flags to honour Moliy and the song’s Jamaican producer, Silent Addy.
Moliy’s “Shake It To The Max ” Full performance at the 2025 #BETAwards2025 pic.twitter.com/oRpD8WM1a5
— Tune Stats (@TuneStats) June 9, 2025
4. Jamie Foxx talks about surviving a stroke
Jamie Foxx, while accepting his Ultimate Icon Award, recounted the health scare that nearly ended his life.
“When I saw that in memoriam, I was like, ‘man that could have been me’… I don’t know why I went through what I went through, but I know my second chance I’m not going to turn down,” Jamie Foxx said.
“I don’t know why I went through what I went through, but I know my second chance, I’m not going to turn down.” – Jamie Foxx talking about his stroke at the #BETAwards
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) June 10, 2025
5. Kevin Hart hands Kendrick Lamar all the awards he won on the night at once
Kendrick Lamar dominated the winners’ list taking home five awards, Best Male Hip‑Hop Artiste, Album of the Year (GNX), Video of the Year (“Not Like Us”) and two more awards.
Rather than call him back five different times, host Kevin Hart carried all the plaques over in a single trip and handed all to the rapper.
“Take all right there, that’s your problem, not mine… you won them so I don’t have to be responsible for how you get to carry them,” Kevin Hart said whiles giving all the plaques to the rapper.
Kevin Hart gives Kendrick Lamar ALL the awards he won tonight at once. 😭 #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/qEfXgqCZgh
— clubheartbreak (@clubheartbreak) June 10, 2025
Also, watch an exclusive interview with Ayisi on the latest edition of Talkertainment below:
AK/EB
