Lil Nas X called out the 2022 BET Awards on Twitter for “an outstanding zero nominations” after his critically acclaimed MONTERO and three hit songs last year.
Lil Nas X scored no BET nominations for the second consecutive year — he received a Best New Artist nomination (which he lost) at the BET Awards in 2020. This year, he had five Grammy nominations for his highly anticipated debut album, MONTERO, released late last year.
The singer and rapper called out BET in a since-deleted tweet, saying, “Thank you BET Awards. An outstanding zero nominations again. Black excellence!”
In response to a troll accusing him of using his gay identity as an “excuse” to criticize the BET Awards, Lil Nas X said that having “3 of the biggest songs of last year” and a critically acclaimed album should have earned him a nomination.
“Doesn’t even have to be me nominated,” he tweeted in a follow-up comment. “I just feel like black gay people have to fight to be seen in this world and even when we make it to the top MFs try to pretend we are invisible.”
The LA Times captured the commentary, as Lil Nas X has since deleted all tweets related to the BET Award nominations.
BET Award nominees for 2022 include Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Baby Keem, Future, H.E.R., Chlöe, and Jazmine Sullivan, all of whom received multiple nominations. Doja Cat dominated the nominations in six categories, including Album of the Year for her junior LP, Planet Her. Doja’s other nominations are Female R&B/Pop Artist, Female Hip-Hop Artist, BET Her (for “Woman”), Best Collaboration (for “Kiss Me More” featuring SZA), and Video of the Year (for “Kiss Me More”).
BET has also recognized many actors and athletes whose work showcases the “best brightest, and most beautiful aspects of the Black experience” while exhibiting the power to effect change. The film and TV nominees include Zendaya, Denzel Washington, Queen Latifah, Regina King, and Will Smith.
Hosted by actor Taraji P. Henson, the 2022 BET Awards will be broadcast on June 26 at 8 pm PT on BET from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.