Feb 26, 2018
The awards celebrated the best (and worst) social media over the past year.
On Sunday, Feb. 11, live from Atlanta’s Tyler Perry Studio, BET introduced the BET Social Awards, a first-of-its-kind celebration of the best (and worst) in social media over the past year.
The night opened with a high-energy medley of the top dances of 2017 starring social media sensations Blame it on Kway and Lala Sizahands.
Michael Blackson then took the stage cracking jokes. No one was off limits; from President Trump, Tyrese, Kevin Hart and Monique. He even joked about himself, calling for Monique to step aside because he is “the most decorated comedian.”
“Look at me,” said Blackson, wearing traditional African garb, as he pointed to a photo of himself in a green suit. “That suit has every green in it: iguana green, money green, gang green, even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle green!”
Watch the video:
What resonated with me the most? Watching Amanda Seales bounce onstage and describe the essence of #BlackGirlMagic:
The show also honored the founders of the Women’s March. Organizers Tamika D. Mallory, Bob Bland, Carmen Perez and Linda Sarsour took the stage, raising their fists up in unity as they thanked BET.
Kash Doll (known as one of hip-hop’s famed “femcees”) ignited the crowd, singing For Everybody, while YFN Lucci closed out the show with a medley including his mega-hit Everyday We Lit.
To drum up excitement before the show aired, BET curated the Museum of Meme, a gallery of memes, GIFs and other forms of social media inspired by black culture. The pop-up exhibit was open on Friday, Feb. 9 and Saturday, Feb. 10 in New York City, and fans checked out everything social, from Issa Rae’s quote “Rooting for everybody black” to Milly Rocking boomerangs and the legendary GIF of Michael Jackson eating popcorn.
With the hashtags #WeOwnSocial and #BETSocialAwards, fans shared their experiences on every social media platform leading to the awards show in Atlanta.
Below is the complete list of winners:
ISSA WAVE winner: Kash Doll
SOCIAL HUSTLE winner: KendallKyndall
LMAO! winner: Blame it on Kway
CLAPBACK winner: Jess Hilarious
BEST PODCAST winner: The Joe Budden Podcast
MOOD AF winner: Issa Rae – “I’m Rooting for Everybody Black”
BAEWATCH winner: Remy Ma & Papoose
BEST TEA winner: The Shade Room
Check out BET.com for more clips and photos from BET’s most social weekend of 2018 so far.