ANI
27 Jun 2022, 13:37 GMT+10
Washington [US], June 27 (ANI): The BET Awards stars grabbed their opportunities to slam the United States Supreme Court after Friday's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that legalized abortion nationwide.
Janelle Monae, the first presenter of the night, put up her middle finger and said, "F you, Supreme Court," from the stage during the live ceremony that took place Sunday at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The expletive was bleeped during the telecast, but her middle-finger gesture was shown, as per The Hollywood Reporter.
"I'd like to give a special, special shoutout to Black women, to Black queer artists, to Black nonbinary artists. These artists making art on our own terms, owning our truths and expressing ourselves freely and unapologetically in a world that tries to control and police our bodies, my body, and our decisions, my decision," Monae said.
She continued, "F you, Supreme Court. I know we are celebrating us right now, as we should -- we absolutely deserve to celebrate especially now. We must celebrate our art by protecting our right and our truths."Host Taraji P. Henson also addressed the US Supreme Court verdict in her opening statement at the show's opener, which followed Lizzo's performance of 'About Damn Time.' Henson hailed Lizzo's announcement Friday that she would be donating USD 500,000 to Planned Parenthood, with an additional offering of USD 500,000 from Live Nation.
"Thank you, Lizzo, for pledging one million dollars to Planned Parenthood. And you damn right -- it's about damn time. It's about damn time we step into our power. It's about damn time we talk about the fact that guns have more rights than a woman. It's a sad day in America," Henson said.
The star added, "A weapon that can take lives has more power than a woman, who can give life if she chooses to."Jazmine Sullivan, the night's first winner for Best RB/Pop Artist, also addressed the historical verdict during her time on stage, although she didn't directly mention the Supreme Court or abortion. "As always, I do this for the women; for my sisters, especially. It's a hard time right now for us, and I want to speak directly to the men. We need y'all. We need y'all to stand up. Stand up for us, stand up with us," the singer said.
Sullivan added, "If you have ever benefited from a woman making one of the toughest decisions of her life, which is to terminate a pregnancy, you need to be standing with us. This is not just a woman's issue. This is everybody's issue, and we need your support more than ever, OK, fellas. Y'all got us? Because we've got y'all. Y'all got us?"Meanwhile, Latto, winner of the Best New Artist, part of her own acceptance speech said, "It's giving pro-choice. It's never giving a man policing my body." (ANI)
Get a daily dose of San Diego Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to San Diego Sun.
More InformationSAN FRANCISCO, California: To resolve a pending litigation with the Oregon affiliate of the International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI), ...
OAKLAND, California: As their current contract expires and their unions prepare to strike, Kaiser Permanente workers' representatives said, on September ...
SACRAMENTO, California: Fast food workers will now receive $20 per hour in California, after the governor signed a fast food ...
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, California: In his opening statement this week in the first U.S. trial over allegations that a car autopilot ...
SACRAMENTO, California: Intending to raise some US$160 million per year to help prevent gun violence, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed ...
WASHINGTON D.C. Due to internal brake fluid leaks that can cause an electrical short and could lead to engine fires, ...
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands: This week, Dutch competition regulator, the ACM, rejected an appeal by Apple against fines worth €50 million. ...
TOKYO, Japan: Tokyo-based startup Tsubame Industries has developed a four-wheeled robot that resembles the "Mobile Suit Gundam" from the popular ...
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - According to The News, the federal government is considering selling its stake in the Reko Diq project ...
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - U.S. stocks tumbled on Tuesday as interest rates on 10 and 30-year Treasury yields approached ...
DUBLIN, Ireland: The chief medical officer has issued a stark warning regarding the alarming levels of cannabis consumption in Ireland, ...
OAKLAND, California: As their current contract expires and their unions prepare to strike, Kaiser Permanente workers' representatives said, on September ...