Teyana Taylor Honored as Icon of the Year
US actress and musician Teyana Taylor was the standout winner at the BET Awards held in Los Angeles, with her emotional response to receiving the Icon of the Year award from Janet Jackson becoming one of the evening's most memorable moments.
The 35-year-old, who gained significant recognition for her role in the Oscar-winning film One Battle After Another, was visibly moved and tearful as Jackson presented her with the honor.
"Oh my God... I'm gagging, they did not tell me Janet was coming,"Taylor exclaimed as she joined her idol on stage.
Taylor’s multifaceted career began early, having choreographed a Beyoncé music video at just 15 years old. At the ceremony, she also secured awards for Best Actress, Video Director of the Year, and Fashion Vanguard.
During her acceptance speech, Taylor had to wipe the condensation from her glasses, a testament to her emotional state.
"I worked my ass off [for] 20 years for this,"Taylor told the audience before removing her glasses to clear the steam.
"So I'm not accepting what I've earned with arrogance, I'm accepting what I've earned with gratitude.
And this year alone I continue to give the world the artist, actress, director, choreographer, creative director, stylist, designer, writer, producer and chef! I graduated in September, y'all!"
The reference to graduation pertains to her completion of studies at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, which she balanced alongside her film and music commitments.
This year has been especially successful for Taylor, who earned a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for her performance in One Battle After Another, as well as a Grammy nomination for her album Escape Room.
She addressed the BET audience on the challenges of the entertainment industry, stating,
"This business can be very wicked [because] it teaches us to compete."
She further elaborated on her philosophy of success:
"I believe greatness isn't measured by how many people stand beneath you,
It's measured by how many people stand beside you because you're willing to reach back. That's the only legacy I care about."
Other Highlights from the Ceremony
In other award results, hip-hop duo Clipse won three accolades: Album of the Year, Best Group, and Best Collaboration for their track "Chains & Whips" featuring Kendrick Lamar.
British singer Olivia Dean was recognized as Best New Artist, marking a year in which she has solidified her status as a global music figure.
Lauryn Hill Receives Living Legend Icon Award
Lauryn Hill was honored with the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award and delivered a surprise performance following a tribute medley featuring Nas, SZA, Doechii, Lizzo, Doja Cat, Common, and Queen Latifah.
The 51-year-old artist first rose to prominence as a member of The Fugees and released her critically acclaimed solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998, which remains her sole studio album.
Addressing her audience, Hill shared a message about the importance of individual talents:
"We hold different gifts. Someone else's gifting might be fashion. Might be hair. Might be consoling someone. It might be this microphone.
But that gifting is very important because somebody out there needs your gift. So don't sell your gift short."
