BET Awards pays tribute to Prince and Muhammad Ali

An array of artists performed tracks from Prince’s back catalogue.

This year’s BET Awards honoured Prince with a series of tributes from artists including Stevie Wonder, Dave Chappelle, The Roots, Bilal and Prince collaborator Sheila E.

The Roots, Erykah Badu and Bilal performed ‘The Ballad of Dorothy Parker’ and ‘The Beautiful Ones’ in honor of the late artist while Stevie Wonder and Tori Kelly covered ‘Take Me With U’. Jennifer Hudson also sung a version of ‘Purple Rain.’

Maxwell performed ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ and Janelle Monae performed a medley including ‘Delirious,’ ‘Kiss,’ ‘Pop Life,’ and ‘I Would Die 4 U’, with Sheila E closing the night with another medley. Watch clips of a selection of performances below.

Stevie Wonder and @ToriKelly! pic.twitter.com/JHlfMbDTZs

— Joshua Wagner (@JTrevore) June 27, 2016

Jennifer Hudson (@IAMJHUD) shook my soul with her #Prince tribute performance my lawd 🙌🏽😩 #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/2aa1v7OWEV

— REVOLT TV (@RevoltTV) June 27, 2016

The 16th annual event, which took place in LA last night (June 25) also saw Muhammad Ali’s daughter Laila pay tribute to her late father with a moving speech featuring a famous Ali quote: “The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”

The night wasn’t entirely free of controversy. Justin Timberlake faced criticism over a comment he tweeted following actor and activist Jessie Williams’ acceptance speech. When asked by Twitter user Ernest Owens if he was going to stop appropriating black music and culture: responded with: “Oh, you sweet soul. The more you realize that we are the same, the more we can have a conversation. Bye.” He, ultimately, apologised.

@iJesseWilliams tho…#Inspired #BET2016

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016

So does this mean you're going to stop appropriating our music and culture? And apologize to Janet too. #BETAwards https://t.co/0FwBOQR24D

— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) June 27, 2016

Oh, you sweet soul. The more you realize that we are the same, the more we can have a conversation.

Bye. https://t.co/FeTmGLOKVc

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016

How a major white pop star speaks on social issues after being "inspired" by Jesse Williams… "We are the same" https://t.co/269BkDqzsX

— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) June 27, 2016

I feel misunderstood. I responded to a specific tweet that wasn't meant to be a general response. I shouldn't have responded anyway…

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016

I forget this forum sometimes… I was truly inspired by @iJesseWilliams speech because I really do feel that we are all one… A human race

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016

I apologize to anyone that felt I was out of turn. I have nothing but LOVE FOR YOU AND ALL OF US.

–JT

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016

Winners at last night’s ceremony included Drake, who beat Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West and others to pick up the award for Best Male Hip-hop Artist, while Nicki Minaj took home the Best Female Hip-Hop Artist trophy for the seventh year in a row. See the full list of music winners below.

Centric Award
Beyoncé – Formation

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyoncé

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Bryson Tiller

Best Group
Drake & Future

Best Collaboration
Rihanna ft. Drake – Work

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
Drake