BET Awards In Memoriam video honors Kevin Samuels and social media has a lot to say about it. The 2022 BET Awards was hosted by Taraji P. Henson, who presented the In Memoriam slide show that happens annually.
The BET Awards In Memoriam video honored influential Black people who are no longer with us. This year, BET not only highlighted influential Black people but also people who lost their lives to gun violence and an overturned law.
People who were mentioned during the video included Roe vs. Wade, Young Dolph, Betty Davis, Trouble, Andre’ Leon Tally, Biz Markie, DJ Kay Slay, Lil Keed, Michael K. Williams, Sidney Poitier, Virgil Abloh, and Kevin Samuels. After Sidney Poitier was shown, there was a gunshot sound, followed by the cities and states that were impacted by gun violence. They ended the video with “In Memory Of All Lives Lost Due To Gun Violence.”
Click the image below to view the BET awards In Memoriam video. If that doesn’t work, click here.
Social Media Reacts
While I think it’s safe to say that the BET Awards In Memoriam video was made with good intentions, it didn’t land well with everyone.
Common critiques were that Kevin Samuels tore down Black women yet was honored anyway, that BET honored Kevin Samuels but left out the lives lost during the Buffalo, NY shooting, and that Roe v Wade and Kevin Samuels shouldn’t be honored in the same video.
Check out the social media reactions below:
BET awards the only place on earth you’ll see Kevin Samuels in the same video package as Sidney Poitier
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) June 27, 2022
BET putting Roe v. Wade and Kevin Samuels in an “in memoriam” segment was the idea of someone who is extremely online and needs to touch grass.
— Andrew Hammond (@ahammFreePress) June 27, 2022
BET putting Roe V Wade and Kevin Samuels in this memorial, and ending it with gunshots is so… #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/6AEk6XeoBW
— Ｍａｔｔｈｅｗ . (@MathewNoKnowles) June 27, 2022
I’m glad they put Kevin samuels in the memoriam so his haters can whine again? #BETAwards
— tae ?? (@taeoct6) June 27, 2022
Shoutout to @BET for honoring Kevin Samuels ?✊? #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/MjewYzgrNm
— Kevin SamuelsTV (@kevinsamuelstv) June 27, 2022
BET tryna cater to black men tonight because they bitch asses been on Twitter all year saying no one cares about them after they done dragged black women for filth in the name of Kevin Samuels. #BETAwards
— Big Lex? (@TheeArtOfLex) June 27, 2022
They memorialized Kevin Samuels, but not the Buffalo victims. I hate BET so much lmaooo.
— prēyé (@SosoTheWanderer) June 27, 2022
BET putting Roe v. Wade and Kevin Samuels in the same “in memoriam” segment is historic television
— stay at home uncle (@damutah) June 27, 2022
No you motherfuckers did not include that damn ragged ass, misogynistic trash bag Kevin Samuels in a tribute @BET Y’all are unserious
— Alone Ranger (@Galeficent) June 27, 2022
Lil nas x wasn’t nominated at the BET awards but Kevin Samuels was honored. Lol
— B(lack) E(vil) T(elevision) (@nottramar) June 27, 2022
BET put Kevin samuels name in that in memoriam like we cared for him
— Niggaolas is in renaissance (@niggaolas) June 27, 2022
Mics not on, teleprompter issues, Ms. Pat annoying ass, white people in attendance and Kevin Samuels apart of the fallen tribute…
Sound the horns and pack this shit up BET. #BETAwards
— Ultra Babe (@ItGirlDanie) June 27, 2022
The gunshot after remembering gun violence victims, Kevin Samuels after Roe v Wade like take the slideshows away from BET
— 5’10 Latino Male (@justbetalking) June 27, 2022
What did you think about the BET Awards In Memoriam video? Should Kevin Samuels been excluded from the tribute? Let us know in the comments below.