It’s been a week and a day since BET aired what was billed as an award show and a tribute to the late Michael Jackson. Much has been said about the shenanigans and outright foolishness that was cobbled together like a combination plate from the local ‘hood Chinese spot. Poorly organized, tasteless (with the exception of a few brief bits) and with production values that make TH’s preschool graduation look like the Oscar’s, BET hit a new low.
Watching them is like watching the cousin you know can do better continue to spiral out of control. After hoping, praying and trying to get them some help, all you can do is look away while they crash and burn.
But this is not about the show in its entirety. This is about the performance below:
Most importantly, it’s about what happens at around 3:55, the underage girls taking the stage to dance to a song about “F*ck(ing) Every Girl in the World!” A best, it was poor judgment and at worst, it’s child abuse. I am leaning toward the latter.
There is no way that those children should be on the stage dancing to this song. There is no way that those children should even hear that song. What are we subjeting our children too? Yes, there have always been songs about sex played on the radio, but they were full of metaphor, innuendo and had an amazing grasp of the english languge. This song, not so much.
BET issued an apology (whatever) and one of the performers, Drake, had the good sense to handle the situation in an almost-honorable way. At least he tried.
Is it a coincidence that two of the girls on stage were the daughters of the stars of the new BET reality program Tiny & Toya and that they, along with the other two young girls are in a singing group? Should it matter that Lil Wayne is the father of one of the girls? HELL NAW!
BET has pretty much shown themselves to be who they are and if you keep watching and hoping they change, then god luck to you. In my mind, they no longer exist. But who I really want to roll up on are the parents of the girls, at least three of whom were there.
I can’t wrap my head around the idea of Lil Wayne having parenting skills, so I won’t even try. However, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle and Antonia Carter (from the above-mentioned new show) were right there. It would have taken five seconds for my mother to run up on that stage, yoke me up and drag me off, regardless of who my daddy was or if it was a live telecast.
It’s bad enough that these women’s sense of”reality” is being broadcast to and soaked up by the masses. Is it really too much to raise your girl-child properly and imbue her with a sense of self-esteem, integrity and self-worth or can these young women’s self-actualization be sacrificed for the almighty dollar?
As a parent, it is your JOB to nip mess like then in the bud in spite of any recrimination, financial and otherwise. BET has issued their fake apology, now I am waiting for these mamas to issue a statement explaining themselves.
Special thanks to What ABout Our Daughters.
