Fans had questions after Usher’s BET Lifetime Achievement Award speech was heavily censored.
The singer was given the award in Sunday’s ceremony (June 30), where he also won the award for Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and was nominated for three others.
However, viewers weren’t sure what he was saying in his acceptance speech after he swore in reference to his estranged father, leading to BET censoring him.
Many of them took to X/Twitter to voice their frustration or poke fun at BET, with journalist Philip Lewis simply asking why the US is “so weird about curse words.”
why is America so weird about curse words! #BETAwards
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 1, 2024
The censor person in the back during Usher speech #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/cVjmXMfWOO
— LENA (@_sdm26) July 1, 2024
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Fortunately, however, the mics were on during his tribute performance, which featured an all-star group of singers covering some of Usher’s biggest hits. Among those involved were Childish Gambino (‘U Don’t Have To Call’), Keke Palmer (‘You Make Me Wanna’), Tinashe (‘Nice & Slow’) and Latto (‘Yeah!’).
On X, Usher described the tribute as “amazing”, saying, “Thank U to each and every one involved in the making of this moment.”
My tribute was amazing mannn…thank U to each and every one involved in the making of this moment 🙏🏾
— Usher Raymond IV (@Usher) July 2, 2024
BET has since uploaded the full uncensored speech to YouTube, too.
This wasn’t the first time Usher has run into technical difficulties in recent weeks, either. Latto had to step in to help save his performance of ‘Superstar’ at 107.9’s Birthday Bash in Atlanta, Georgia, last month, as The Root reported.
Meanwhile, Usher is preparing for an extensive North America tour beginning next month and a UK and Europe tour next year. He’s beginning his US and Canada run with three dates in Atlanta’s State Farm Arena from August 14 and finishing with three nights at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas at the end of November. You can find tickets here.
His UK and Europe tour starts on March 29 with the first of eight dates at The O2 in London and finishes back at the venue with two dates on May 6 and 7, but not before taking in Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin. You can find tickets to his London shows here.