Though fans will certainly not be seeing Will Smith at the Oscars anytime soon, the rapper and actor is scheduled to make an appearance at this year’s BET Awards -- and will be premiering a brand new song as a bonus.
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Now only two years into his 10-year ban from attending any Academy Awards events following his 2022 Oscars slap laid upon host Chris Rock, 55-year-old Will Smith is set to take the 2024 BET Awards stage on Sunday, June 30 with brand new music.
The three-time BET Awards Best Actor winner is currently riding high on the success of the fourth film in his beloved Bad Boys series with comedian Martin Lawrence, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which has brought in almost $147 million in North America since its opening on June 7.
“From his start as a rapper to The Fresh Prince to being a box office king as one of the Bad Boys, Will Smith is truly a global icon, and we are honored to welcome him back to grace the BET Awards stage,” Connie Orlando, executive vice president of specials, music programming & music strategy at BET, said in a statement. “We look forward to Will adding to yet another defining night for the culture that is not to be missed.”
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Hosted by Taraji P. Henson for her third year, Toronto rapper Drake leads this year’s nominations with seven nods followed closely behind by Nicki Minaj with six. Smith joins the ranks of this year’s previously announced performers GloRilla, Ice Spice, Latto, Ms. Lauryn Hill & YG Marley, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, Tyla, and Victoria Monét, and Tanner Adell.
The 2024 BET Awards are scheduled to air live on BET on Sunday, June 30 at 8PM ET/PT. Voting for the 2024 Viewer’s Choice Award closes on June 30 at 6:30P PT/ 9:30P ET.