BET Awards ‘20: 5 Times Rihanna Owned The Stage
Bad Gal in the building!
Rihanna has always shown love at the BET Awards. The Bajan bombshell consistently brings her full-on stunting abilities to the annual turn-up for Black excellence.
This year’s festivities will be done remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but tune in to BET on June 28, 2020 at 8 pm EST to find out what happens. You never know who’s going to pop up, but you do know that it will be fun and for the culture.
Check below for five times Ms. Rihanna has shown up and shown out for the BET Awards.
A Curtsy to the Queen of Hip Hop Soul (2019)
Clad in a leather pants suit and rocking a bouncy red ponytail, Rihanna gave a heart-felt tribute speech to Mary J. Blige, who was receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. The “Umbrella” singer lavished Blige with praise for blazing the trail for herself and other artists. “Uptown Records’ youngest female artist Mary J. Blige introduced herself to the world with a brand new vibe forever aligning the worlds of hip hop and R&B,” said RiRi. “On behalf of the women who came after you, like myself, thank you for being you so we could feel comfortable being ourselves.” Slow clap for the queens!
BBHMM Teaser (2015
Back in 2015, Rihanna graced the BET Awards stage with her mind on her money and her money on her mind. Clearly in a playful mood, Rihanna tossed cash at a BET exec and even took duct tape to boxer Floyd Mayweather’s mouth. (Maybe he had her money?) Her mission that evening was to premiere a movie-like trailer to her new single “B*tch Better Have My Money,” an infectious bop that was reportedly inspired by her financial issues with her former accountant.
Take a Bow (2008)
Rihanna glided across the 2008 BET Awards red carpet in a flouncy yellow frock accented with sweet ruffles. When it came time to perform though, she traded in the demur look for a more daring black corset with a see-through-skirt. She (and her perfectly coiffed pixie cut) belted out her ballad “Take a Bow.”
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Hollywood Glam (2007)
The 2007 BET Awards captured vintage Hollywood Rihanna. Looking like a Dorothy Dandrige throwback, RiRi eased down the red carpet in a sleek, off-the-shoulder white dress. She managed to get in a quick kiki season with Beyoncé before she headed to present the Best Actress Award with Chris Brown. (The award went to Jennifer Hudson for DreamGirls). Once the lights were turned down for the show, Rihanna hit up Jermaine Dupri's after-party in a fun black dress with criss-cross detailing on the back.
Newbie (2006)
Before she became a "Good Girl Gone Bad" with multi-million dollar entrepreneurial ventures under her belt, Rihanna was a bright-eyed, tattoo-less newcomer who just wanted to sing. At the 20006 BET Awards, Rihanna was nominated for Best New Artist. She loss to Chris Brown, but she did get to present the Best Male R&B Artist Award to Prince. Not bad for a consolation prize.
