BET Awards pay tribute to Prince, Muhammad Ali

BET Awards pay tribute to Prince, Ali
(Image credit: AP/YouTube)

Beyoncé won best video honors at Sunday night's BET Awards, as well as the viewers' choice award, for her hit "Formation," but her mother, Tina, accepted it on her behalf, explaining that Beyoncé had dashed off to London after her opening performance of "Freedom," with Kendrick Lamar in a pool of water.

Grey's Anatomy actor Jesse Williams injected a bit of politics with a speech on racial injustice, and several recipients urged people to vote against Donald Trump. "I'm really not political but it's serious out here, and for those who think that, you know, 'Oh he's not going to win' — think again," said Empire star Taraji P. Henson, when accepting her best actress award. "Don't get tricked like they got tricked in London!" said Samuel L. Jackson, accepting a lifetime achievement award.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.