Photos and videos by Maatology and BET AWARDS (last pic)
Yours Truly holding up a ticket from the 2023 BET Awards
This story is how I was able to attend this year's BET Awards without knowing beforehand of my entry to see the actual show at The Microsoft Center. And trust me, this will be a story that is unbeleivable as far as how I was able to receive entry.
But it actually happened!
So, to put everything in perspective, my plan wasn't to attend this year's BET Awards. Actually, I was planning to attend the Awards/Closing Party for this year's Hollywood Fringe Festival which were going to be held at The Bourbon Room in downtown Los Angeles.
But, something told me to take a Lyft to the Microsoft Center and see what happens while in the mix of one of the more popular awards shows that attracts mostly a "colorful" African American audience.
Yours Truly in the middle of the crowd at the entrance of the Microsoft Center (formerly Staples) where the BET Awards were held June 25
I got to the Microsoft Center around 3pm when most of the Pre-Awards Concert Stage was taking place. What I saw was a swarm of black SUVs parked behind each other and hundreds of people looking on the traffic of cars and fast walkers in the secured and barricaded area within main hub of venue. It looked a bit daunting as far as where to go to get my networking going at least, but, in my experience, it's good to blend in and figure out how the landscape is to decipher your moves to your target(which in this case--getting inside the stadium to the awards show).
So, what I proceeded to do was walk around the area figuring out where the areas were and speak to for entry. But, much to my avail, I wasn't getting anywhere fast! I asked a few security people as far as how to get inside and what it took to try to get access by using my media pass. But, none of the "earpieces with black shades" security was not budging. The policy was everyone had to have had a either a badge or a ticket for entry.
But, I knew better than that to give up on just the first try and so early because at this time, security is at its highest of disallowing anyone who didnt have access . The stadium was barricaded with nylon black tarp gripped tightly with a guard near most of the areas where the gate portion opened.
So, I walked, and walked, and walked around in the area as the beating summer sun was kissing the back of my neck with its heat. I had my linen suit jacket folded on my forearm so I wouldn't cause sweat marks so early in my fashion mode. I decided to take a chance and walk to an area near the stadium where there was a makeshift entry for clientele and staff who were working the award shows including crew members and escort drivers. It was also the assumed back entry where celebs were to walk with their publcist or assistants to the red carpet area.
NOT!...I'll explain.
So, when I found a corner in that pollinated area of seciurity on one side of a DO NOT ENTER barricade and fans on the other waiting to see anyone they were familiar with seeing on their TV and movie screens and hearing in their earbuds. So, the first celebrity I saw while standing in this area was rapper Too Short. He was demanding security to give him entrance telling the ethnically mixed security that he was who he was until one of the African American male security officers who was mid-age told the non melanated ones who he was and gave him entrance.
Then, I saw social media star Bobby Lytes in all of their extravagant flamboyance wearing a designer gold halter top and silver lame bell bottoms and platform shoes. And their face was beat to the makeup gods. Them, along with their enterouge was trying to get access and was having issues from the tightly gripped security. So, they got on his phone and began to yell to whomever they were talking to about their problem getting access. I looked for a film camera becsue his over the top antics was giving as though one was there. They also got everyone's attention with his theatrics while giving invisible smooch kisses to female social media stars who came his way and complimeting them on their styles of choice.
After all their foolish, yet amusing behavior, Lytes eventually made their way along with his entourage through barricaded area when security opened a segment of the barricade to exit crew members while still yapping on the phone.
Then, reality show star NeNe Leakes and her assistant walked to the area, and she ended up standing next to me to the point I could see the pimple that on her left cheek on her face that covered up with concealer. She had a look on her face of purpose, of someone like me to fan out or hit on her as she averted her eyes slightly at me and brushed back the long blonde stands of weave from her shoulder. I didnt say anything to her nor made any move toward not giving her any business. I didn't want to appear as a fan but more as an equal colleague. Still blending and giving security any reason to think I didn't supposed to be there.
So, as her assistant was demanding from security that she needed entry to walk teh red carpet, he gave the whole dont-you-know-who-she-is pablum and, then a sweetly smiled, short fleshy woman in locs walked up by securty and toild Nene, "Hi, I can get you in." Nene was gracious and asked her who she was and the lady gave her the info but one of the female security officers interjected and told Nene and her assistant that they must walk back to their driver's car and drive around another area of the stadium to get access. Then, another suited officer told Nene and her asisstant they could walk under the covered parking lot adjacent to the area where we were standing there was an entry area for celebrites to walk into the stadium for the red carpet. Nene proceeded to tip toe in her stilettos and walked along with her male assistant to the other area for entrance. It was also funny to see how Nene just back waved at some female fans who were screaming at her that they loved her.
One of the tickets that "fell" in my hand.
So, after about an hour of being in this spot where I saw all the VIPs get turned away and trying to use their face recognition for access, things started to get interesting as far as what was about to happen to me and getting access.
So, when I also walked in the area where Nene and her asistant walked for entrance near the covered parking lot, I saw many black SUVs driving into an area that was closed off where securty guards opened parts of the area for the drivers to drive to a secluded parking area. I walked to and fro in the area where people behind the scenes had VIP badge . I even asked one of teh makeup artists who exited briefly if she was leaving and if I could use her badge. She laughed and said she was coming back.
At this time, I made my peace that there was no chance of my getting access to the stadium. But, something in my spirit was telling me not to give up so fast.
Then as I blended again with people who were trying to get clearance from people who were already inside for access, I saw Hollywood Unlocked personality Jason Lee walk swiftly in a silver space suit type get up and shades not looking at anyone as he walked in a hurry inside the red carpet entry having the look of not having anyone talk to him about access.
Meanwhile, after I spoke with one the newbie security guards about trying to get access, I was about to start my way to a Lyft to my actual event I was planning to attend. So as I was walking away from the coevered garage, I looked down on the ground and I saw a black envelope. The same black envelope that people had with their tickets inside. Something told me to pick up the envelope and, not really thinking any tickets were in the enveippe, I opened it and THREE TICKETS WERE INSIDE! ORCHESTRA LOWER RIGHT SEATS.
I was like, what the fuck!!!
So, my street sense kicked in and I scooped the tickets from the ground and put the envelope inside my suit jacket pocket and walked the opposite direction where I started from when the Lyft dropped me off to follow the crowd as to the right area for entry when I asked a security officer the right area to stand for entry.
I couldnt beleive it! I actually had tickets in my grasp! I was so nervous thinking someone was going to yell "Hey, those are my tickets!" and I had to give up my hope of chekcing out what the curiosuty was about the BET Awards and how all the moving parts operate during this televised event. So, when I got to the main area where the ticket holders were where I saw some people scalping and begging for an extra ticket.
There were hundreds of people in the ticketed entrance area. It was chaos and extra police had to be called for crowd control. The ticket access area was filled with men in black type guys who had an iron clad fist on access. No ticket-no entry.
So, when I congreagted with the crowd and making small talk with some (one guy was a social media blogger from Switzerland) extra police came on the scene, and the Men in Black got on a megaphone to demand people get in a single line and those who had tickets had to hold them up. Now mind you, there are hundreds bittlenecked trying to get people to get in a single file line??? That was close to impossible to do.
There were also this tall, middle aged black guy in a Kangol who seem to have been a street clothed memebr of the BET Awards team was telling the frustrated crowd that there's no need to push into the access area and we would all have the ability to enter (I recall that guy had spittle come from his mouth while he talked LOL). Now, mind you, no one was pushing, so it was as though they were expecting some rowdiness to occur within the crowd.
So, after about thirty more minutes of hurrying and waiting, mind you the show started about 30 minutes in and the tickets had the policy that the chances of getting access after 5pm would be slim. Mind you, it was about 530pm (So I was there for over two hours at this point.) Soon after, the line appeared to start moving and, of course, some anxious fans was trying to over walk people in front of them causing some pushing but not to the point of a possible stampede. The crowd immediately checked those who tried to cause a melee. At the time of my turn for my ticket to be seen by the Men n Black I got a second of doubt that I might not get in, but after I snapped out of that temporary ponder, one of the M.I.Bs told me to go ahead into the stadium.
ONE HURDLE DOWN.
Then, I walked to one of the doors to enter the stadium and saw a TSA type set up where everyone had gone through a metal detector and had their personal items in a container (I wonder if this same set up is at the Oscars or Emmys. But, I digress.) Everything cleared on my end.
A SECOND HURDLE DOWN.
Then,I had to get my ticket scanned and had it done with no problem.
A THIRD HURDLE DOWN.
Now, there was a couple of more hurdles that was about to come my way which I wasn't expecting. The actual doors to enter the stadium was guarded by the stadium securitywhere they were having people waitto enter. People were starting to get pissed (as did myself) regarding the reason for the delay to enter. As a result, most of the people in my area walked to the adjacent door and everyone walked through it dilligently where a female usher was unnocticed who was trying to stop people from entring. But, failed in her demands as she said, 'Yawl are going to get me fired."
FOURTH HURDLE DOWN.
Now I was finally in the stadium and it was definitely one of those eye opening experiences that was very surreal, like an out of body experience while still in real time. At the time of my eye gaze, the surviving members of Migos were performing. I was about to get to my sectioned seat until the usher stopped me.
Oh boy. Here we go.
Come to find out, the ushers didnt want people walking the aisle during the televised portion of the show was going on and we had to wait until the show had gone to commerical to find our seats. So, when a break occurred, I scurried along to find my seat, but, much to my chagrin, I had gone in the wroong area of the lower level, having people to get up from their seats as I did the walk of being late and squeezung my way between the person getting up and the back of the other seats in front of the person rising from their seat. Everyone was cool about it, probably because I had seats that were for the celebrities and VIPS (the mezzainine seats were more for the general public).
After another walk back to the ushers and wait for another shot at getting a seat, I asked the one female usher where exactly I sat and they directed me exactly where I need to go--and got there succesfully.
LAST HURDLE DOWN.
So when I sat down and looked out beyond my area and seeing various face recognized VIPS of actors, rappers singers, producers and such mixing it up and getting entertained by all the wild and crazy fashion choices of everyone. It was also a sight to see rapper LIL BOOSIE clown up a storm with drink in his cup heckling the crowd and even falling down on the floor in the isles being the total class clown. I also saw reality show star Chisean (the one who's booed up with Blueface) cross the front of the front row talking on a cell phone walking to backstage. That was a hoot to witness and obvuous she was trying to get seen. As far as the cell phone thrown at Lil Uzi Vert, that likely happened near the lower center near the stage area. I didnt see it occur until it was reported in press and social media sites.
Yours Truly in the Orchestra area of the stadium.
BELOW ARE VIDEOS OF YOURS TRULY AT THE BET AWARDS
In the colored fur is comedian Michael Blackston
Yours Truly among the thousands there at the stadium.
So, while I was checking out the stage of presenters and performers, I was one of thousands who were sitting in the lower level on the right side of the stage to witness the Teleprompter Fiasco with Patti LaBelle who was set to perofrm the song "The Best," for the tribute to Tina Turner during thd In Memorium segment of the show. So, from my perspective, as Miss Patti was singing on stage right the teleprompter was far stage left and the lyrics were scrolled unevenly to the point where anyone could have had problems trying to see the lyrics. So, when Patti quipped, "Hey I cant see the words.I'm trying ya'll!" during her set, the audience laughed as they understood and enjoyed her performance.
Nevertheless, the press and social media had a field day spinning the moment making it seem as though Miss Patti was old and forgetful and was downright shameful of her performance. Well, to her defense, she couldnt see the words based on where the teleprompter was located. Now, many on social media tend to argue that she should have rehearsed, but it could have been where she may not have had time to rehearse especially when it was first reported earlier this month that she was tapped to perform and who's to say her only time to rehearse was on the day of the show.
A photo of the cast from Tyler Perry's All the Queens Men." Yours Truly was sitting a few seats back from them at the award show.
So, as I was engulfed with a party filled atmosphere of VIPs, I looked down at my watch and saw it was time for me to get to my planned event at the Bourbon Room. So, when Busta Rhymes was introduced to receive the Lifetime Acheivement Award, I started my way out of the stadium preparing to leave. But first, I started walking toward the mens room to take a leak and afterwards, made a final walk though in the lobby to see anyone of prominence. During it, I saw comedian Michael Colyer (who I heard had a hard time getting entry to the event) who wore this pimped out dark green suit and shoes and brim to match. I also saw some of the cast of Tyler Perry's All The Queens Men including male stripper Bolo (and one guy who was wearing an Asian printed cape that buttoned at the top so his bare chest and abs can be exposed and magician style black pants who received the Headscratch Award for Fashion Choices LOL. He is PICTURED ABOVE) who were about to exit until some female fans stopped some of them to take a picture with them.
SIDEBAR....Now, mind you, if I was planning to attend this award show, I was definitely going to ask around to where the main after parties were going to be held and where the real schmoozing would be happening on all levels, but it wasnt--so I decided to cut the festivities into my planned event at The Bourbon Room.
So, four hours later, as I walked out the stadium and toward a nearby restaurant, Yard House, where people from the awards show sat outside to eat and watch the awards show on several TV screens, I waited for my Lyft to take me to my actual event I was planning to attend. But, to be honest, my adventure of getting a chance to attend the awards show without knowing I was going to even receive what I received was definitely the event of my journey to my planned event!
NOTE. Overall, from my experience, The BET Awards has definitely changed from its yester year with A list celebrities attending and the classiness of the event. Many moniker the event as EBT Awards and most of the red carpet attendees wore outragrous costumes (but doesnt the Met Gala have its guests where outlandish cotumes, too? I digress), the show has turned more into a social media influenced show with Generatiion Z artists in the spotlight. This year the theme of 50 Years of Hip Hop. so the awards hsow felt more as a BET Hip Hop Honors, but to be part of a cultural experience was defintelty something to witness and remember. As a media person for over 20 years, I am familair with going to industry events, but this was my first time attending The BET Awards and I enjoyed all the baubles and spells that came with it. Could the awards show improve on its optics and image. Most definitely. But, in hindsight, I rather have an award show that caters toward the African American experience, than not have it all! And to those on social media who dogged the award show I am sure woul dhave driven miles to Los Angeles to use one of my tickets I found to go to the show. LOL
