BET made last-minute changes to the BET Awards plans after learning about Michael Jackson's death. They switched gears and decided to use the show as a vehicle to showcase and celebrate Jackson's legacy.
Throughout the night, hosts and performers paid homage to the late pop icon. Host of the event Jamie Foxx wore a red leather jacket (similar to the one Jackson wore in "Billy Jean") video during his opening monologue and did his best moonwalk to a mix of raucous laughter and applause.
Jay-Z gave shoutout to Jackson during his "D.O.A." performance, and Drake referred to him as "the best we ever had" during his rendition of the hit single "Best I Ever Had" alongside Lil Wayne. Ne-Yo, Ciara, New Edition, and Jamie Foxx all did their best to imitate Jackson during their respective tributes to the King of Pop.
There were little surprises on the award end of the event, Lil Wayne won for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, while M.I.A. won Best Female Hip-Hop. T.I., who's currently incarcerated, snagged the Viewer's Choice award for "Live Your Life," his collaboration with Rihanna (also absent from the show). (See complete list of 2009 BET Award winners).
The show ended with a speech from Janet Jackson, on behalf of the Jackson family. Janet fought through tears to express gratitude to Jackson's fans for their moral support: "My entire family wanted to be here tonight. It was just too painful. To you Michael is an icon. To us Michael is family. And he will forever live in all of our hearts."
And that he will.
Photo © Kevin Winter/Getty Images
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