Last night, BET lived up to their promise “We Got You” and delivered a show filled with epic surprises and captivating moments. BEYONCÉ shocked the packed house when she opened the show with KENDRICK LAMAR in a first-ever LIVE television performance of “Freedom.” The night continued with heartfelt high-energy performances in honor of the artistry, legend and soul that is PRINCE at the 16th annual BET Awards, which aired live from the Microsoft Theatre at L.A. LIVE on Sunday, June 26, 2016.

2016 “BET AWARDS” show highlights include:

Returning hosts ANTHONY ANDERSON and TRACEE ELLIS ROSS had the crowd in hysterics with their hilarious opening spoof of the Tony award-winning musical “Hamilton” infusing some of today’s hottest songs including “Panda,” “Cut It” and “Down in the DM.”

In one of the evening’s homages to Prince, STEVIE WONDER sang alongside TORI KELLY to “Take Me With U.” The audience stayed on their feet as JENNIFER HUDSON came out directly following, blowing the crowd away with an emotional and breathtaking performance of Prince’s “Purple Rain.”

Actor and civil rights activist JESSE WILLIAMS was presented this year’s Humanitarian Award by BET Chairman and CEO DEBRA LEE and gave a moving speech dedicating his award to “the real organizers all over the country.” He closed to a standing ovation as he reminded the audience that “Just because we’re magic doesn’t mean we’re not real.”

A perfect ending to an evening of celebratory tributes, SHEILA E. shut the house down with an electrifying performance, featuring a medley of Prince classics including “Erotic City,” “Let’s Work,” “U Got the Look,” “A Love Bizarre,” “Glamorous Life,” and “Baby I’m A Star.”

In addition to all of these unforgettable moments, the complete list of 2016 “BET AWARDS” winners is:

Best Female R&B / Pop Artist
Beyoncé

Best Male R&B / Pop Artist
Bryson Tiller

Best Group
Drake & Future

Best Collaboration
Rihanna Ft. Drake – Work

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
Drake

Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Nicki Minaj

Video of the Year
Beyoncé

Video Director of the Year
Director X

Best New Artist
Bryson Tiller

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Kirk Franklin

Best Actress
Taraji P. Henson

Best Actor
Michael B. Jordan

YoungStars Award
Amandla Stenberg

Best Movie
Straight Outta Compton

Sportswoman of the Year Award
Serena Williams

Sportsman of the Year Award
Stephen Curry

Centric Award
Beyoncé

Best International Act: Africa
Black Coffee (South Africa)

Best International Act: UK
Skepta

BET Global Good Award Honoree:
Akon (Senegal)

Viewer’s Choice “Best International” Artist:
Falz (Nigeria)

For select clips of the 2016 “BET AWARDS,” please click here and head to www.bet.com.

For photos of the red carpet, backstage and performances go to the BET dedicated press room at www.BETpressroom.com.

BET.com/Awards is the official site for the 2016 “BET AWARDS” and features all the incredible content from this year’s show. Join the conversation on social media by following BET Awards on the following platforms:

  • Twitter & Instagram: @BETAwards, Use hashtag: #BETAwards
  • Facebook: facebook.com/TheBETAwards
  • Tumblr: betawards.tumblr.com

The 2016 “BET Awards” will premiere around the world on BET’s international network. It will air in the UK on Tuesday, June 28th at 9:00pm BST, in Africa on Tuesday, June 28th at 7:00pm CAT, and in France on Wednesday, June 29th at 9:00pm CEST.

Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment served as Executive Producer. Stephen G. Hill, BET’s President of Programming; Connie Orlando, BET’s Senior Vice President of Music and Specials, and Lynne Harris Taylor, BET’s Vice President of Specials served as Executive Producers for BET Networks.

2016 “BET AWARDS” SHOW FOOTAGE USAGE RULES

The following stipulations govern usage of all direct telecast footage from the 2016 “BET AWARDS” telecast, which premiered on Sunday, June 26 at 8 P.M.* ET/7 P.M.* CT:

  • Maximum of 90 seconds within the first 24 hours of the premiere telecast
  • Maximum of 60 seconds 24 to 36 hours after the premiere telecast
  • Maximum of 30 seconds 36 to 72 hours after the premiere

Outside of the first 72-hour window of the premiere telecast, please contact BET Corporate Communications at 212-205-3264

BET AWARDS ’16 BROADCAST RESTRICTIONS

News programs and services may excerpt portions of the 2016 “BET Awards” telecast during the seven days following the live telecast on June 26, 2016 solely for reporting about the 2016 “BET Awards” as an event and subject to the following conditions.

Broadcast Restrictions:

  • Up to three minutes in total, but no more than thirty seconds of any single moment or performance, may be used within the period ending the first day following the telecast.
  • Up to one minute in total, not separate from the three minutes referenced above and no more than thirty seconds of any single moment or performance, may be used within the period of the second through seventh days following the telecast.
  • Any display, exhibition or performance of the material must be accompanied by the chyron, “Courtesy of BET”.

Online Restrictions:

  • BET Networks provides video and photo assets of full show moments and performances here.
  • Otherwise, up to thirty seconds of any single moment or performance may be used as part of a wrap-up package through the seventh day following the telecast (For purposes of clarification you may NOT use portions of the 2016 “BET Awards” as standalone video assets).
  • Any display, exhibition or performance of the material must be accompanied by the chyron, “Courtesy of BET”, and a link to www.bet.com

For updates or more information about 2016 “BET Awards” visit http://www.bet.com/shows/bet-awards.html

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ABOUT BET NETWORKS

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

ABOUT “BET AWARDS”

The “BET Awards” is one of the most watched award shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company. The “BET Awards” franchise remains as the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET's #1 telecast every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.

BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA®

BET Networks, an entertainment powerhouse, and AEG, the leading world’s leading sports and live entertainment companies and developer/operator of L.A. LIVE, have teamed up once again to create the BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE (BETX), June 23 - 26, 2016 presented by Coca-Cola®. This four-day festival will be filled with music and comedy concerts taking place at The Novo by Microsoft and STAPLES Center; FREE BET Fan Fest at the Los Angeles Convention Center including seminars, celebrity basketball games, celebrity meet & greets; and other special appearances. The weekend will be capped off with the “BET Awards” on Sunday, June 26, 2016 at Microsoft Theater.

ABOUT AEG

AEG is the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation, owns, operates or consults with a collection of companies including over 100 of the world’s preeminent facilities such as STAPLES Center (Los Angeles, CA), StubHub Center (Carson, CA), PlayStation Theater (Times Square, New York), Mercedes-Benz Arena (Shanghai, China), Qudos Bank Arena (Sydney, Australia), Mercedes-Benz Arena (Berlin, Germany), and The O2 arena and entertainment district (London, England). Developed by AEG, L.A. LIVE is a 4 million square foot / $2.5 billion downtown Los Angeles sports, & entertainment district featuring Microsoft Theater and a 54-story, 1001-room convention "headquarters" destination. In addition to overseeing privately held management shares of the Los Angeles Lakers, assets of AEG Sports include franchises such as the LA Kings, LA Galaxy and the Amgen Tour of California cycling stage race. Along with AEG Facilities, other global divisions include AEG Live, the world’s second largest concert promotion and touring companies comprised of touring, festival, exhibition, broadcast, merchandise and special event divisions and AEG Global Partnerships, responsible for worldwide sales and servicing of sponsorships, naming rights and other strategic partnerships. In 2010, AEG launched its AEG 1EARTH environmental program featuring the industry's first sustainability report while in 2011, AEG introduced AXS a comprehensive entertainment platform serving as the company’s primary consumer brand including AXS Ticketing which provides fans the opportunity to purchase tickets directly from their favorite venues via a user-friendly ticketing interface, Examiner.com and the AXS TV network, a linear cable channel focusing on live entertainment and lifestyle programming available in nearly 40 million homes. AEG’s European headquarters are located in London. Global headquarters are in Los Angeles. For more information, visit: www.aegworldwide.com

ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT

Jesse Collins Entertainment is a full service television and film production company founded by entertainment industry veteran Jesse Collins. For more than a decade, Collins has played an integral role in producing some of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. Formerly Executive Producer/EVP of Cossette Productions, Collins has produced ground-breaking and award winning television programming including the BET Awards, the GRAMMY Awards, Soul Train Awards, BET Honors, UNCF An Evening of Stars, ABFF Awards and the BET Hip Hop Awards. Collins is an executive producer of the hit TV series, Real Husbands of Hollywood starring Kevin Hart and the upcoming original miniseries based on the iconic music group New Edition that will debut on BET in 2017. He has worked with a myriad of superstar talent including Will Smith, Chris Rock, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Prince and Mariah Carey. Follow Jesse Collins Entertainment @JesseCollinsEnt on Twitter and Instagram and go to http://www.jessecollinsent.com/ for more information on the company.

Follow us @BET_PR AND @BETAWARDS