The organisers of the Best International Act Award have come under heavy backlash for awarding prominent Nigerian singer, Ayra Starr behind the scenes.
As earlier reported by eelive.ng, the 22-year-old Nigerian sensation took home the Best International Act award, beating out tough competition. However, fans were left fuming when she wasn’t presented with the award on stage at the Los Angeles ceremony.
Instead, the win was announced on the BET Awards’ Instagram page. Nigerians are now taking to social media to express their outrage, feeling the singer was snubbed.
Reacting, a displeased Nigerian, Shola commented: “This was what wizkid fought for those years,they always did this shit until it was wizkid and he no attend the award,according to the story..he went on an interview and said if they weren’t gonna give him the award on the main stage then he don’t want it..the next year wey Davido win am them start from there they award am for main stage..all 3 or 4 times burnaboy won it na main stage..this people know wetin them dey do,na una dey rate them too much.”
Another user, ama_says remarked: “2025! Afrobeats is making international charts and waves yet BET tries this insult again??? Even Grammys is awarding our African stars on the main stage. What the helly!!!”
User like___vonne4 argued that the singer should have rejected the award. “She shouldn’t have accepted it.”
Another user, Bella commented: “I feel so embarrased on behalf of Ayra star. She dressed up to go to that show and they didnt even announce she won and didnt giive her awrd on stage. Mobstars: Wizkid fought openly against BET award organizers years ago for the disrespect always shown to African artists at the event. This is 2025, its on IG we discovered Ayra Starr as one of the winner, no award present to her on the stage.”
The 2025 BET Awards ceremony which was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, celebrates Black excellence in music, film, sports, and culture.
