2025 BET Awards: Fashion Faux Pas and Glorious Winners!
BET Awards 2025: A Night of Fashion Faux Pas, Poetic Proclamations, and Record-Breaking Wins
The 2025 BET Awards took place at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, with an evening filled with sartorial disasters, poignant performances, and a slew of record-breaking wins. Our fashion expert was on hand to dish out the highs and lows of the red carpet, while our entertainment correspondent was busy taking notes on the night's most memorable moments.
The Fashion Frenzy: Who Rocked (and Who Got Rocked) the Red Carpet?
Let's start with the good stuff – or rather, the not-so-bad. Tisha Campbell coordinated her burgundy mane with an oxblood-leather Anthony Lattimore gown covered in belts selected by stylist J. Bolin. The 56-year-old Little Shop of Horrors alum was attempting to recreate the late Gianni Versace's iconic black-leather belt dress he made for his sister Donatella back in 1993.
However, not everyone fared so well on the fashion front. Machine Gun Kelly led the pack with one of the worst-dressed ensembles at the event. The singer, rocking Napoleon Dynamite curls, looked more like a high school cafeteria server than a chart-topping artist in his preppy pastel yellow shirt, matching necktie, and black trousers.
"It's as if he raided the nearest J.Crew outlet and said, 'You know what? I'm going to wear all of these,'" our fashion expert quipped. "And don't even get me started on those razor blade-inspired earrings – I'm not sure what's more disturbing, their aesthetic or the fact that he seems to think they're a good idea."
Meanwhile, Inayah opted for a wrinkled purple set that failed to showcase her incredible figure, while Rapper Kash Doll and former Detroit Lion Za'Darius Smith wore matching brown leather ensembles inspired by Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake's denim explosion on the AMAs red carpet in 2001. The Scholary Note reports that this questionable decision was met with a collective eye-roll from the fashion-conscious attendees.
However, not everyone was a victim of fashion catastrophe. Gospel singer Lucinda Moore turned heads in a black-hooded blazer draped with white fringe, embroidered skinny pants, and platform peep-toe heels – an outfit she styled herself. And let's just say that NFL quarterback-turned-podcaster Cam Newton took a big swing with his snug brocade vest and trousers, but was ultimately swallowed by the busy print.
Taraji P. Henson Steals the Show (and Our Hearts) with Her Epic Performance
But the evening wasn't all about fashion disasters – or were they? Taraji P. Henson donned an outlandish, 50ft tall caped gown onstage to deliver a pretentious poem about divorce during Teyana Taylor's performance at the awards ceremony honoring black excellence.
"It started as a spark and we fed it with promises," she began, clutching a burning bouquet of roses. "Eyes locked, 'I do.' Until one day, anger and rage, love shouldn't burn everything it touches."
The 54-year-old Oscar nominee continued to wax poetic about the perils of marriage, concluding, "So, I walked away from the wreckage. Not because I stopped loving you, no, but because I finally understood even love is something you must escape."
While some may have found her performance a tad too dramatic for their taste, our entertainment correspondent was won over by Henson's passionate delivery and poignant words.
Record-Breaking Wins and Memorable Moments
But the evening wasn't all about drama – or should we say, not enough drama? The 2025 BET Awards were filled with record-breaking wins, including Kendrick Lamar taking home the award for Best Male Hip Hop Artist. Other winners included SZA (Best Female R&B/Pop Artist), Future and Metro Boomin (Best Collaboration), and Doechii (Best New Artist).
In addition to Henson's memorable performance, other highlights of the evening included Teyana Taylor transforming into a bulky-looking robot in what appeared to be a direct homage to Katy Perry's Lifetimes Tour 'K3P143' costume crafted by designer Zaldy. And who could forget Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award winner GloRilla, who took home the award for Rain Down on Me featuring Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music?
The Complete List of Winners
For those interested in reliving the excitement of the 2025 BET Awards, here's a complete list of winners:
Album of the Year: $Ome $Exy $Ongs 4 U - Drake & PartyNextDoor
11:11 Deluxe - Chris Brown Alligator Bites Never Heal - Doechii Cowboy Carter - Beyoncé Glorious - GloRilla GNX - Kendrick Lamar (WINNER) Hurry Up Tomorrow - The Weeknd We Don't Trust You - Future & Metro Boomin
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: SZA (WINNER)
Ari Lennox Ayra Starr Coco Jones Kehlani Muni Long Summer Walker
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Chris Brown (WINNER)
Bruno Mars Drake Fridayy Leon Thomas Teddy Swims The Weeknd Usher
Best Group: Future & Metro Boomin (WINNER)
41 Common & Pete Rock Drake & PartyNextDoor FLO Jacquees & Dej Loaf Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist Maverick City Music
Best Collaboration: "Luther" - Kendrick Lamar & SZA (WINNER) "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" - Shaboozey "After Hours" - Kehlani "Denial Is A River" - Doechii "Family Matters" - Drake "Not Like Us" - Kendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip Hop Artist: Doechii (WINNER)
Cardi B Doechii Doja Cat GloRilla Latto Megan Thee Stallion Nicki Minaj Rapsody Sexyy Red
Best Male Hip Hop Artist: Kendrick Lamar (WINNER) BigXthaPlug Bossman Dlow Burna Boy Drake Future Key Glock Lil Wayne Tyler, the Creator
Video of the Year: "Not Like Us" - Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
3AM in ToKEYo” - Key Glock "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" - Shaboozey "After Hours" - Kehlani "Denial Is A River" - Doechii "Family Matters" - Drake "Timeless" - The Weeknd Feat. Playboi Carti
Video Director of the Year: Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
Anderson .Paak B Pace Productions & Jacquees Benny Boom Cactus Jack Cole Bennett Dave Meyers Foggieraw Tyler, the Creator
Best New Artist: Leon Thomas (WINNER) 41 Ayra Starr BigXthaPlug Bossman Dlow Dee Billz October London Shaboozey Teddy Swims
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award: GloRilla featuring Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music (WINNER)
"A God (There Is)" - Common & Pete Rock Feat. Jennifer Hudson "Amen" - Pastor Mike Jr. "Better Days" - Fridayy "Church Doors (Terry Hunter Remix)" - Yolanda Adams Feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence "Constant" - Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula
Viewer’s Choice Award: "Residuals" - Chris Brown (WINNER)
“Denial Is A River” - Doechii "Nokia" - Drake "Like That" - Future & Metro Boomin Feat. Kendrick Lamar "Not Like Us" - Kendrick Lamar "Luther" - Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Best International Act: Rema (Nigeria) and GloRilla featuring Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music (WINNER) A’ja Wilson Angel Reese (WINNER) Claressa Shields Coco Gauff Dawn Staley Flau'jae Johnson Juju Watkins Sha'Carri Richardson Simone Biles
Best International Act: Rema (Nigeria) and GloRilla featuring Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music (WINNER)
Aaron Judge Anthony Edwards Deion Sanders Jalen Hurts (WINNER) Jayson Tatum LeBron James Saquon Barkley Stephen Curry
And that's a wrap on the 2025 BET Awards – an evening filled with fashion faux pas, poignant performances, and record-breaking wins. Who will be next year's big winners? Stay tuned to find out!
